Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-08-16
ChrtstOphor north I'm the Lecture
Room.

From my College Days" by r. Tones.
There is no difficulty for any ON
living in Edinburgh to see Prof. Will
son; for IL he was anywhere within tn
field Of vision, the eye was sure u
be attracted and fixed upon him.
saw him almost every day going to hi
class and coming from it. can vel
recall his gigantic figure stridinl
along the North and South bridges a
such q space that his three or foul
little short legged Scotch terriers, which
always followed at his heels, run 81
fast a, th'y might, could hardly keel
up with him.
Prof. Wilson has been often de
scribsd, but never 30 accurately as il
this hasty Sketch Of him by Dickens
"a tail, burly, handsome man o.
aight-and forty, (lo4l,) with a gai
like o'Connell's: the bluest eyes you
eau imagine, and long hair--longel
than mine" says Dickens, calling
down in a wild way, under the broad
brim Of his hat. He had on surtout
coat, a blue checked shirt, the collar
standing up, and kept it 10 its place
with wisp Of black necksrchiei; nc
waistcost; and large pocket handker.
chief thrust into his breast, which was
all broad and open. At his heels fol
lowed a wiry, sharp-eyed, shaggy devil
Of terrier, DIGGING his steps as he
went slushing up and down, now with
one man beside him, now with another,
and now quite alone, but always at a
fast, rolling pace, with his head in the
air, and his eyes as wide open as he
oould get them. Iguessed it was Will
son, and 1t was. A bright, clean COM
plexioned, mountain looking fellow,
he looks as though he had just come
down from the Highlands, and had
never in his life taken pen in
hand"
There is not the least exaggeration
In this description by Dickens of the
carelessness Of Wilson's dress. He
always looked to me as If he had slept
in his clothes, and, having been sud
denly awakened, had been forced to
hurry away, without having time to
put them and his person in order. l
used occasionally to follow the
professor to his lecture room, where, as
he assembled the rostrum, he was greeted
by his large class with such demon
STATIONS Of welcome as evinced The
hearty and sincere affection with which
he was regarded by every student.
He evidently appreciated this daily ex-
preston Of tondness, and always as-
knowledged 1t with kindly smile and
a gentle deprecatory shake of his long
yellow locks.
Silence Immediately ensued among
the students each one Of whom seemed
eager to catch every sound Of their
favorite professors voice. He took out
Of one Of his side-pookets tumbled
oonglomeration OF manuscripts, with no
more regularity Of fern and order than
so much waste paper, and, throwing
them down scattered before him, began
to hold forth. What he said he evident
ly did not read from the writing lying
about, for he never looked at and only
touched IL 10 give II an occasional
crumple with his hand, in the course Of
the energy OF his action. He know but
little | fancy, OF moral philosophy, and
much less Of political economy, but his
lecturer, pleasantly discursive, were
always interesting. His little terriers
in the meantime were crouohing under
his desk, and sometimes the Professor,
In the stir of his eloquence, moving
heedlessly about, would happen to
tread upon the leg or tail Of one OF the
poor little creatures, and sharp yell
would be heard, piercing at once some
oratorical vindbag in course Of infa-
ton by the lecturer, and causing q
sudden collapse and universal merri.
ment, in which Wilson joined as heartily
Ia tho pnet