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them since the dawn of history。 Last； and perhaps most curious；
the sons of chieftains were often educated on the continent of
Europe。 They went abroad speaking Gaelic； they returned speaking；
not English； but the broad dialect of Scotland。 Now； what idea had
they in their minds when they thus； in thought； identified
themselves with their ancestral enemies？ What was the sense in
which they were Scotch and not English； or Scotch and not Irish？
Can a bare name be thus influential on the minds and affections of
men； and a political aggregation blind them to the nature of facts？
The story of the Austrian Empire would seem to answer； NO； the far
more galling business of Ireland clenches the negative from nearer
home。 Is it common education； common morals； a common language or
a common faith； that join men into nations？ There were practically
none of these in the case we are considering。
The fact remains： in spite of the difference of blood and language；
the Lowlander feels himself the sentimental countryman of the
Highlander。 When they meet abroad； they fall upon each other's
necks in spirit； even at home there is a kind of clannish intimacy
in their talk。 But from his compatriot in the south the Lowlander
stands consciously apart。 He has had a different training； he
obeys different laws； he makes his will in other terms； is
otherwise divorced and married； his eyes are not at home in an
English landscape or with English houses； his ear continues to
remark the English speech； and even though his tongue acquire the
Southern knack； he will still have a strong Scotch accent of the
mind。
CHAPTER II。 SOME COLLEGE MEMORIES （2）
I AM asked to write something （it is not specifically stated what）
to the profit and glory of my ALMA MATER； and the fact is I seem to
be in very nearly the same case with those who addressed me； for
while I am willing enough to write something； I know not what to
write。 Only one point I see； that if I am to write at all； it
should be of the University itself and my own days under its
shadow； of the things that are still the same and of those that are
already changed： such talk； in short； as would pass naturally
between a student of to…day and one of yesterday； supposing them to
meet and grow confidential。
The generations pass away swiftly enough on the high seas of life；
more swiftly still in the little bubbling back…water of the
quadrangle； so that we see there； on a scale startlingly
diminished； the flight of time and the succession of men。 I looked
for my name the other day in last year's case…book of the
Speculative。 Naturally enough I looked for it near the end； it was
not there； nor yet in the next column； so that I began to think it
had been dropped at press； and when at last I found it； mounted on
the shoulders of so many successors； and looking in that posture
like the name of a man of ninety； I was conscious of some of the
dignity of years。 This kind of dignity of temporal precession is
likely； with prolonged life； to become more familiar； possibly less
welcome； but I felt it strongly then； it is strongly on me now； and
I am the more emboldened to speak with my successors in the tone of
a parent and a praiser of things past。
For； indeed； that which they attend is but a fallen University； it
has doubtless some remains of good； for human institutions decline
by gradual stages； but decline； in spite of all seeming
embellishments； it does； and what is perhaps more singular； began
to do so when I ceased to be a student。 Thus； by an odd chance； I
had the very last of the very best of ALMA MATER； the same thing； I
hear （which makes it the more strange）； had previously happened to
my father； and if they are good and do not die； something not at
all unsimilar will be found in time to have befallen my successors
of to…day。 Of the specific points of change； of advantage in the
past； of shortcoming in the present； I must own that； on a near
examination； they look wondrous cloudy。 The chief and far the most
lamentable change is the absence of a certain lean； ugly； idle；
unpopular student； whose presence was for me the gist and heart of
the whole matter； whose changing humours； fine occasional purposes
of good； flinching acceptance of evil； shiverings on wet； east…
windy； morning journeys up to class； infinite yawnings during
lecture and unquenchable gusto in the delights of truantry； made up
the sunshine and shadow of my college life。 You cannot fancy what
you missed in missing him； his virtues； I make sure； are
inconceivable to his successors； just as they were apparently
concealed from his contemporaries； for I was practically alone in
the pleasure I had in his society。 Poor soul； I remember how much
he was cast down at times； and how life （which had not yet begun）
seemed to be already at an end； and hope quite dead； and misfortune
and dishonour； like physical presences； dogging him as he went。
And it may be worth while to add that these clouds rolled away in
their season； and that all clouds roll away at last； and the
troubles of youth in particular are things but of a moment。 So
this student； whom I have in my eye； took his full share of these
concerns； and that very largely by his own fault； but he still
clung to his fortune； and in the midst of much misconduct； kept on
in his own way learning how to work； and at last； to his wonder；
escaped out of the stage of studentship not openly shamed； leaving
behind him the University of Edinburgh shorn of a good deal of its
interest for myself。
But while he is （in more senses than one） the first person； he is
by no means the only one whom I regret； or whom the students of to…
day； if they knew what they had lost； would regret also。 They have
still Tait； to be sure … long may they have him！ … and they have
still Tait's class…room； cupola and all； but think of what a
different place it was when this youth of mine （at least on roll
days） would be present on the benches； and； at the near end of the
platform； Lindsay senior （3） was airing his robust old age。 It is
possible my successors may have never even heard of Old Lindsay；
but when he went； a link snapped with the last century。 He had
something of a rustic air； sturdy and fresh and plain； he spoke
with a ripe east…country accent； which I used to admire； his
reminiscences were all of journeys on foot or highways busy with
post…chaises … a Scotland before steam； he had seen the coal fire
on the Isle of May； and he regaled me with tales of my own
grandfather。 Thus he was for me a mirror of things perished； it
was only in his memory that I could see the huge shock of flames of
the May beacon stream to leeward； and the watchers； as they fed the
fire； lay hold unscorched of the windward bars of the furnace； it
was only thus that I could see my grandfather driving swiftly in a
gig along the seaboard road from Pittenweem to Crail； and for all
his business hurry； drawing up to speak good…humouredly with those
he met。 And now； in his turn； Lindsay is gone also； inhabits only
the memories of other men； till these shall follow him； and figures
in my reminiscences as my grandfather figured in his。
To…day； again； they have Professor Butcher； and I hear he has a
prodigious deal of Greek； and they have Professor Chrystal； who is
a man filled with the mathematics。 And doubtless these are set…
offs。 But they cannot change the fact that Professor Blackie has
retired； and that Professor Kelland is dead。 No man's education is
complete or truly liberal who knew not Kelland。 There were
unutterable lessons in the mere sight of that frail old clerical
gentleman； lively as a boy； kind like a fairy godfather； and
keeping perfect order in his class by the spell of that very
kindness。 I have heard him drift into