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craftsman can fail to see how much the one must have tried in his
time to imitate the other。 Burns is the very type of a prime force
in letters： he was of all men the most imitative。 Shakespeare
himself； the imperial； proceeds directly from a school。 It is only
from a school that we can expect to have good writers； it is almost
invariably from a school that great writers； these lawless
exceptions； issue。 Nor is there anything here that should astonish
the considerate。 Before he can tell what cadences he truly
prefers； the student should have tried all that are possible；
before he can choose and preserve a fitting key of words； he should
long have practised the literary scales； and it is only after years
of such gymnastic that he can sit down at last； legions of words
swarming to his call； dozens of turns of phrase simultaneously
bidding for his choice； and he himself knowing what he wants to do
and （within the narrow limit of a man's ability） able to do it。
And it is the great point of these imitations that there still
shines beyond the student's reach his inimitable model。 Let him
try as he please； he is still sure of failure； and it is a very old
and a very true saying that failure is the only highroad to
success。 I must have had some disposition to learn； for I clear…
sightedly condemned my own performances。 I liked doing them
indeed； but when they were done； I could see they were rubbish。 In
consequence； I very rarely showed them even to my friends； and such
friends as I chose to be my confidants I must have chosen well； for
they had the friendliness to be quite plain with me； 〃Padding；〃
said one。 Another wrote： 〃I cannot understand why you do lyrics so
badly。〃 No more could I！ Thrice I put myself in the way of a more
authoritative rebuff； by sending a paper to a magazine。 These were
returned； and I was not surprised nor even pained。 If they had not
been looked at； as （like all amateurs） I suspected was the case；
there was no good in repeating the experiment； if they had been
looked at … well； then I had not yet learned to write； and I must
keep on learning and living。 Lastly； I had a piece of good fortune
which is the occasion of this paper； and by which I was able to see
my literature in print； and to measure experimentally how far I
stood from the favour of the public。
II
The Speculative Society is a body of some antiquity； and has
counted among its members Scott； Brougham； Jeffrey； Horner；
Benjamin Constant； Robert Emmet； and many a legal and local
celebrity besides。 By an accident； variously explained； it has its
rooms in the very buildings of the University of Edinburgh： a hall；
Turkey…carpeted； hung with pictures； looking； when lighted up at
night with fire and candle； like some goodly dining…room； a
passage…like library； walled with books in their wire cages； and a
corridor with a fireplace； benches； a table； many prints of famous
members； and a mural tablet to the virtues of a former secretary。
Here a member can warm himself and loaf and read； here； in defiance
of Senatus…consults； he can smoke。 The Senatus looks askance at
these privileges； looks even with a somewhat vinegar aspect on the
whole society； which argues a lack of proportion in the learned
mind； for the world； we may be sure； will prize far higher this
haunt of dead lions than all the living dogs of the professorate。
I sat one December morning in the library of the Speculative； a
very humble…minded youth； though it was a virtue I never had much
credit for； yet proud of my privileges as a member of the Spec。；
proud of the pipe I was smoking in the teeth of the Senatus； and in
particular； proud of being in the next room to three very
distinguished students； who were then conversing beside the
corridor fire。 One of these has now his name on the back of
several volumes； and his voice； I learn； is influential in the law
courts。 Of the death of the second； you have just been reading
what I had to say。
And the third also has escaped out of that battle of in which he
fought so hard； it may be so unwisely。 They were all three； as I
have said； notable students； but this was the most conspicuous。
Wealthy； handsome； ambitious； adventurous； diplomatic； a reader of
Balzac； and of all men that I have known； the most like to one of
Balzac's characters； he led a life； and was attended by an ill
fortune； that could be properly set forth only in the COMEDIE
HUMAINE。 He had then his eye on Parliament； and soon after the
time of which I write； he made a showy speech at a political
dinner； was cried up to heaven next day in the COURANT； and the day
after was dashed lower than earth with a charge of plagiarism in
the SCOTSMAN。 Report would have it （I daresay； very wrongly） that
he was betrayed by one in whom he particularly trusted； and that
the author of the charge had learned its truth from his own lips。
Thus； at least； he was up one day on a pinnacle； admired and envied
by all； and the next； though still but a boy； he was publicly
disgraced。 The blow would have broken a less finely tempered
spirit； and even him I suppose it rendered reckless； for he took
flight to London； and there； in a fast club； disposed of the bulk
of his considerable patrimony in the space of one winter。 For
years thereafter he lived I know not how； always well dressed；
always in good hotels and good society； always with empty pockets。
The charm of his manner may have stood him in good stead； but
though my own manners are very agreeable； I have never found in
them a source of livelihood； and to explain the miracle of his
continued existence； I must fall back upon the theory of the
philosopher； that in his case； as in all of the same kind； 〃there
was a suffering relative in the background。〃 From this genteel
eclipse he reappeared upon the scene； and presently sought me out
in the character of a generous editor。 It is in this part that I
best remember him； tall； slender； with a not ungraceful stoop；
looking quite like a refined gentleman； and quite like an urbane
adventurer； smiling with an engaging ambiguity； cocking at you one
peaked eyebrow with a great appearance of finesse； speaking low and
sweet and thick； with a touch of burr； telling strange tales with
singular deliberation and； to a patient listener； excellent effect。
After all these ups and downs； he seemed still； like the rich
student that he was of yore； to breathe of money； seemed still
perfectly sure of himself and certain of his end。 Yet he was then
upon the brink of his last overthrow。 He had set himself to found
the strangest thing in our society： one of those periodical sheets
from which men suppose themselves to learn opinions； in which young
gentlemen from the universities are encouraged； at so much a line；
to garble facts； insult foreign nations and calumniate private
individuals； and which are now the source of glory； so that if a
man's name be often enough printed there； he becomes a kind of
demigod； and people will pardon him when he talks back and forth；
as they do for Mr。 Gladstone； and crowd him to suffocation on
railway platforms； as they did the other day to General Boulanger；
and buy his literary works； as I hope you have just done for me。
Our fathers； when they were upon some great enterprise； would
sacrifice a life； building； it may be； a favourite slave into the
foundations of their palace。 It was with his own life that my
companion disarmed the envy of the gods。 He fought his paper
single…handed； trusting no one； for he was something of a cynic； up
early and down late； for he was nothing of a sluggard； daily ear…
wigging influential men； for he was a master of ingratiation。 In
that slender and silken fellow there must have been a rare vein of
courage； that he should thus have died at his empl