The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-30

Ills Vaaaries ~ Law Studcnt-A Queer
school for IA ,Journnii.t.

tnanrtes Law >tuucnt-A queer
school for Journnii.t.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: When
first met Forbes. the now distinguished war
correspondent OF the Lopdon UdiiD Ne,rs. he
had no idea oi becoming a newspaper man. lie
was studying Scotch law in the Office OF n we'll
known writer to Her Maiesty's sGnct in Fdin-
burgh. and was doing the same thing 1t was
toward the close Of the year 1856, and we We're
both in the first pride Of newly-ncdged whis-
kers Ny first meeting with him was in little
tobacco shop near the locality known rs Stock
bridge. The young gentlemen who gathered at
the tobacco shop devoted their leisure moments
to the coloring Of meerschaum pipes. There
were brieless barristers. embryo engineers,
doctors. bankers. and even parsons. Grave
consultations were held over abnormal blOtchcs
In thu early tnts Of favortc bowls. crooked ce-
yatlons IN the first bushes Of adolescent pipe
hood. at which consultations Forbes WAS gene
rally regarded ~ an authority. and listened to
with respect. He had been an Aberdeen College
man, his father being tho minister of a parish
III the North "a very learned divine. and AZ one
time Moderator Of the General Assembly. aud
his conversation showed that hs had not alto
gether smoked away all recollections of the
classies, or polite literature. He WIS a great
swell in his dress. and his conversation was in
general of the most original and racy charar
ter, not always, regret 10 say. seasoned with
salt. II any loud pattern IN coats or trousers
happened to hppear IA tue tailors Windows
Forbes wis IN" FIRST man To brave public opin-
ion and appear IN Princes street arrayol In III
latest agony. He was known ut one time ~ the
man IA The pale suit the sun in question Icing
oi "a strongly pronounced meal DIOR aud of 50
couslhcuNu- UNI contracted with the usual
quiet styi" OF dress worn ia Edinburgh. Us to at
tract particular attention, especially from the
ladies. Forbes at that time spoke with a sort
Of hcsitating drnwl which made his conver-a-
ton rather funny than Otherwise. | can readi-
~ understand now ne came to break down So
London the other day. On his feet he wis n
speaker had they gwen hin "a chanrc seated NJ
u quiet table With three or four crOnlDs Ia"
heard him preach lav sermon in his own
rooms Ia an admiring audience of congo Mai
spirits when you could srarceD distinguish iIo
next man Tor SIN Re, 'tl Wh'h inc flhi~ ~
laughter might have been heard a couple az
blocks on II was not always 80 much what me-
said az nis peculiar w4>, 81 SAYING 1t. Ii : man
ner I, sehhlrd th9t of Marx Twain moro than
any ON" have II ct before or since.
Forbes anu a chum OF hi, lived M This period
"A narrow street and sew, raj generations ot col.
ioge men had not lett these halls amt chambers
anything thy bet. r Of nights devoted 10 bcer.
tobacco and midnight OIL 1t WINS u reg ion
cordant cornet ana piano playing. and To- loud
mni unste9 ,h sI'ee6l ~ IN tnr m,IIg
with kindly ipdinercnce. merely Iemai X INK
that the lads must have their day. Mr.. Forbes
a snd s iriGrd quarters ronS.sgd 2t a parnr
were hung the trophies of Mr.. forbes's mid
night Investigations and studies Ia social
science signs in fact adorned this chaste and
classic apartment. signs of an Industrial and
useful character. On one side the eye encoun-
tended to" r M,TGrk Bites and i'' Sno'oIn ~
Johs neatly executed" There were tailors
signs. undertakers' signs. and signs and Won
street limp heads. knobs Of doors. and ,urosi-
ties indicative Of tast" for collecting which
might have done honor to Capt. Crosse. No
idea OF peuy larceny ever entered INC head ot
our original friend; IL WAS only his fun. and
when he saw a remarkable sign he could no
more help making raid upon II than lie could
Keep from snuk lnE his faNorite pipe.
:, Ten o'clock 7. NJ Was Ne tea hour Of Mcssrs
arrived Mr. b was most probably stretched At
Ian length ul,on the sofa. when most unearf j.
~ yell would be- heard IN the street beneath
! This was Mr.. Forhcs's announcement of his
| approach. A. lie mounted the stairs "A sound OF
somrthing humping heavily behind nim gem
! JUS, ~ likely rs not to drag in after him bali
and chnin. or some other wonderful discovery
/ ana lanes OF the ScottSh capital. Forbes ana
b were usually lively Mt their tea. They
| smoked during the performance II any little
! dlu,rcnce oil opinion arose between them re-
! gurdlng "a woman, "A game of billiards.. a IN IN
about town, II pipe. book, u passage in Ivy.
| ANYTHING. Forbes would shy tea cup at Dir.
/ li-'~ load. and Mr. b would rotalintc with
| the cream Jug. Nothing more WIS said; both
/ their coats, walked solemnly down three pairs
/ Of stairs, proceeded To II yard in rear OF the
/ house, took OIL the aforesaid coats, had three
outer garments walked soemny mp stairs
/ again, ana finished their tea with the most per
/ lNil IlhtlNNA ana khou lunlOf.
Forbes was at this time what might he called
/ rather last young man He cared very little
/ Tor lhc law ~ a profession kept uncOmmOhly
! late hours, and did everything forbidden in the
| calendar ot the good young man. He used Ia
have a recepted tallors bill hung up in frame
on the wall. which he pointed out Ia an admir-
| ing circle as a wonderful testimonial to virtue
| ana honor. Mothers warned their daught' rs
| not to dance or hirt too much with Mr. Forbes
| and, IN consequence, he was an immense favor
| iln with the tar sex gcneraly he was such
| Il funny follow. and SO wicked"
When forhos loft Edinburgh, about 1853 I,
! seek his fortune, wlscacrVs shook their heuds
and prnphesled that he would come to little
/ good To-day he is Toasted 10y the Duke of
sutherland and the leading men among the
| Arlstpcraov of rank and letters in the Engli~l
capital HIS career after louN NIX Edinburgh is
| now familiar t. the world he went. heiirve
Ia Canada, returned Ia London, enlisted i'm O
| cavalry regiment, wrote ar'iclrs Tor magazines
| the London scotsman, and. during the Franco
| Prus7iuu war, was correspondent of the DdHi
| NCrs, when position he hus held ever since
! performing work ol the highest class and
! during war Times, distinguishing himself hv hi'
strHt'EN, energy, pluck, and vieor u a rapi,
and glWhlr writer
lorhc-. with All his crrutic Ways a. n youth
was "A born correspondent. He had tho iucultl
OF observation Ia an unlimited degree he wa'
AS much al home with the peasant rs the born
arisloriai. lie could push his way anywhere
ana WAS Possessed OF II marvellous amount %
Sell-rrllnnce and indOmltuhc courage. 70
strongly KNIT frame he adds cool, clear head
ana wide range of miscellaneous reading. IT,
Is 4ndQubtt dly the first War correspondent nov
IN England. L. y. l..