New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-04-27
NUMBER
Professor wilson.

"A
s 70. marked viii pabiist4a oas month lid
charged secordtnglT
Professor Wilson.
The intelligence by the Arctic tells us that
the master spirit of old Maga-BIaekwood,s
Magazines dead We are to have no more
communion, save in memory, with the author
of s. Noctes Ambrosian@'' and g Dies Borealis
mo more songs from the singer of the 8. Isle Of
PALMS. and the 6 City Of the Plague" and no
more gentle, yet brave romancing from the
sketcher of the g Lights and Shadows Of Scot
tish Life,' 's The Foresters,' = and . The Trials
of Margaret Lindsay" Close upon the solemn
shade cast by the exit Of Talfonrd, moves an
other, broader and deeper and grander-the
past the s.dark valley and shadow" into the
heaven Of light and beauty, where, if any spirit
has claim to move, the soul of " Christopher
North is now gloriously recreating.
Professor Wilson was one of the most widely
known and read, and most esteemed and ad-
mired, of the great literary lights of modern
times He was born at Paisley, Scotland, in
1888, making his age, at the period of his death,
&c years. His father was a manufacturer of
wealth. Young Wilson was educated at the
Glasgow University, and Magdalen College,
Oxford Precocious in the power of intellectual
accomplishment. he rapidly mastered the learn
ing of the schools. While at Oxford, he gained
the Newdigate prize for poem of sixty lines.
Returning from Oxford, he purchased an estate
on the shores Of Lake Windermere, near to
Wordsworth, from which halcyon retreat he
was driven by reverses Of fortune. He then
pursued the study of the law, and became a
member of the Scottish Bar, at which, however,
he never practiced.
In 1878, at the age of 80, he was elected to
the chair of Moral Philosophy in the University
of Edinburgh, and about that period commenced
those contributions to Blackwood's Magazine,
which, for more than q quarter of century,
were scarcely interrupted, and which, read
with delight wherever the English language
was spoken, gave to that Magazine the crown Of
| its reputation for briliiancy and power. For q
long period &c Kit North,'' as he was Familiarity
| known, was the sole editor of that great Tory
| organ. His writings for it were of the widest
! range and diversity-an subjects seemed to him
alike intelligible, and while some were charmed
with his logic, wit, or philosophy, others shook
their sides over his humor, or Wept at his
pathos. He was equal as reviewer, historian,
critic, essayist, poet and descanter on rural and
| manly sports and pastmes.
| For more than quarter Of century, Will
| son also held his chair in the famous University
of &c Auld Reekie,' and a friend who attended
on his lectures a few years since, has described
| to US the appearance and manner of the moral
philosopher. Over six feet in height his breadth
| of chest and shoulders was worthy of an Atlas.
His head was large and massive, his hair-in
| younger days q blending of the Saxon's and
| the Gaefs--thickly sprinkled with gray, flowed
curlingly to his shoulders, while his large brow,
\ fine chin and nose-eagie like-lnouth stamped
1 with decisions seal, and eyes that could flash
fire from their sockets, made an impression ever
on the casual beholder, never to be forgotten
| In speech his voice was full, round and musical
| and his utterance seemed without efort-likt
the running of perennial fountain. All who
| knew him were warmly attached to him Stu.
dents held him in semi mi-idolatry. Strangers in
Edinburgh made it point TO see and hear Will
son, more than any other man, save, perhaps
| Chalmers.
Besides his scholarly and literary pursuits
| Professor Wilson was famed as being the best
/ athlete in the country His physical nature was
as elastic and vigorous as his spirits we're keen
and buoyant- Heindulged in leaping, wrestling
curling, hunting, fishing. horse riding, and the
science of g the gloves, not as polite fol
| health purposes, than because the exuberanct
| Of his finely balanced Intellectual and physica
activity forced him into the ring, the open field
and away to the mountains. He delighted
reyelled and excelled in manly sports. He wa!
as great walker as De Quincy. At home, al
in society, he was ever the same genial, delight
full spirit.
In 1850, stroke of paralysis incapacitateG
him from authorship, though his mental facul-
ties were untouched. Since his retirement
from the pages Of Blaekwood, his place has beer
filed by his son-in- law, Professor Aytoun, vel
known through his ballads, on whom will doubt.
less deyolve the biography of the lamentet
Christopher North" In 1912, u collection o
! Wilson'S best articles was made from the Maga
zine, and republished in volumes as ssThe Rec
reations of Christopher North Collections o
other articles, particularly the ss Noctes,, nov
out Of print, have been published in this coun
try. Wilson left no son to inherit his name ant
fame-none was needed to perpetuate them.
no, n.,,rrr,e &C c,,p sroon, ro ro>,o,-,rp