Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
GUILTY Oh NOT GUILTY.
By AN EDINBURGH STUDENT.

BIZ AN EDINBURGH STUDENT.
IN my earlier years I studied for d
session at Edinburgh. 1t was in Burke'i
year, not that Of Edmund Burke, but Of
another countryman Of the same name
and not less celebrated. The number, the
atrocity, and the cool speculative motives
Of this tends misdeeds, approached gen.
ius in their way, and in the excitement
of his trial and execution all other topics
were forgotten. / shall not easily forget
the singular fever of the public mind
during these few weeks. / was myself
present at the trial. and witnessed the
spectacle Of the greatest criminal OF the
century being defended by the first coun.
sci at the bar of Scotland. 4 rumor had
gone abroad that no counsel could be
found To appear for such monster; and,
40 q testimony 10 the duty Of counsel
under all circumstances, the most celcbrat
ed advocates Of the day, without fee or
reward, defended this gang Of murderers
in the face Of a torrent Of public preju-
dice.
The afternoon OF the day on which
Burke was executed was distinguished by
first rate college row. The students at
Edinburgh, like its mob, have, when
reused, always been formidable and dan
gerous body; and on this occasion, the
police having intruded into the quadran-
gle To preserve order among the crowd
which hurried TO the dissecting room, q
battle royal had ensued, attended by some
severe injuries, and resulting In trium.
plant and glorious defeat Of the authori-
ties 3s .sl'
To celebrate this propitious event
supper party assembled that evening in
tavern called the Rainbow" The chair
was occupied by the bard and satirist OF
the college, fellow of infinite jest, who
made his mark on the world afterwards,
but who at this time was mainly famed
and feared for the sarcastic and, biting
power of his humor.s Opposite him sat
the prince of stndents--tall, handsome,
reckless, flashing with the exuberance of
youthful spirit, and q now OF convivial
fancy that have never known equslled.
Among the others were two, who figure
in my story. One WAS student named
tombstone, the Thersites Of the circle--a
disagreeable specimen Of q stamp Of man
which lis generally 10 be found in every
circle. without either wit or talent, ex-
cepting the wit and talent to make
others feel uncomfortable. Bold, and un-
scrupulous, and quick TO sec and seize on
weaknesses Of others, he was fagelluns,
a fy-blister; people feared TO make him
their friend, and still more to make him
their enemy, and 50 he extOrted from hate
what he never would have obtained from
love, and was admitted to the most select
coterie Of the University. e}.lihs
The other was stalwart, handsome
vounQ Irishman, who had done mighty ex.
ecution in the melee Of the day caring
but little, after the temperament OF his
nation. about the merits Of the conflict,
but hitting right and left a. his leader told
him. He was an open-brOwed Spanish.
looking son OF Erin, half rollicklng, halt.
sad in expression, who was winding up q
happy night; he had had fight In the
morning, and had frolick In the evening.
His name was Power, q medical student
who had been but o week or two In Edin-
burRh. He was consequently an entire
stranger to the others, and had been in
vited TO make one of the party solely on
the strength Of his fist. m
The chairman, after many .gibe and
snecdote had como round, rose to propose
the teast of the evening" Confusion to
the police, and bad dreams to Bailie Rim.
tout" TN those days the town council
ruled over the college, and the obnoxious
Baltic had given the orders to the police.
"As TO the first part Of the toast" he said,
VT was superhuous, ple0nasn, for the
police were in such confusion already that
noting the company could drink could
add to L, As TO the Bailie, the sentiment
expressed In the toast was suitable. His
normal state was slurnber. He slept on
the bench Of Justice, for he saw him In
that state, on 3 solitary and melancholy
episode IN his, the chairman's, otherwise
blameless life. He slept In church. for h
heard him OH"
"Another solitary and melancholy cpl
sode." suggested the vice.
"0rdef there He heard him snore, and
from it, vieoY and constancy tho occupa
ton Wss manifastly hahituAl. But
Homer sometimes slept, the Battle some
times awakes a. he did to shame the de
I fest to-day He 10 asleep again by .thi
Tina :. R R dreams SO TO hinT7 with all tn
The vice thereon rose to propose con
trsst. 40 he called 1t: the Principal of thu
University and the Lord Provost at tn,
CITY; and this he did In the style AND
with the accept Of a very oelebrated pro
feasor Of divinity II was e great Philip
bic: and II words that burned could have
withered and calcined . civic flnctionary
the unhappy Provost must have ceased
nom hia troubling. He thus concluded
~ propueethat No shall dedicate thil
flowing bowl 70 oxeOratiOna and exnrctsml
OF that malignant star, which, moving IL
the armament, amid, the worlds OF light
vet throws the whole universe out Of eeal
bv it, ill.omened alterations, and propiti
afe and do homage TO that bright particu
M iuminary,, around wh0ae heneAcent
and mellow radiance revolve the planets
of our hearts and hopes" !,
Power, who had once heard the cele
brated orator himself, was charmed and
delighted with the copy ana waIminl