New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-08
CHRISTOPHER NORTH IN TIE LECTURE.
ROOM.
From my College Days" bJ n. Tones.


There was no difficulty for any living In
Edinburgh to see Professor Wilson; for If he was
anywhere within the held or VISION. the eye was
sure 10 he attracted and fixed upon him. | saw
him almost every day going to bis class and coming
from IT, can well recall his gigantic figure strid-
ing along the North and South bridges at such
pace that his three or four little sb0rt-egged
Scotch terriers which always followed az his heels,
run as fast as they might, could hardly keep up
Nth him. o..
never SO accurately az in this basty sketch of him
bv Dickens d" A tall, buFly, handsome man OF
eight.and-forty tls4n. with gait like QConnelPs,
longer than mine" saws Die kens. falling down In
a wild way under the broad brm OF his hat. lie
had on a surtout coat. blue checked SHIRT, the
collar standing up, and kept IN It's place with wisp
of black neckerchief, no waistcOat; aud largo
pocket handkerchief thsust into his breast. which
was all broad and Open Az his heels followed
wiry, sharp.ey shaggy devil or terrier, doggRg
his steps be went slashlDg up and down, now
with one man beside him, now with another and
now quite alone. but always at FAST rolling pace,
with his head III the ar and ms eyes a. VIDE open
as he could get them. guessed IL was Wlisontah
It was. A bright, clean-complexioned nountaln'
looking fellow he looks as though he bad just come
down from the Highlands and had never In his life
taken pen in hand
There is not the least exaggeration in thsdescrip-
tion nv Dickens of the carelessness OF Wilson's
dress He always looked to me as 1t he had slept In
ms clothes, and, having been suddenly awakened,
tine To put them and his person In order. used
occasionally 10 follow the professor 10 his lecture
room where as he assembled the rostrnm. he was
greeted by his large class with such demonstrations
of welcome as evIneedthe hearty and sincere afec-
ton by which he was regarded by every student.
lie evidently appreciated this daily expression OF
fondness, and always acknowledged il with kindly
smile and a gentle deprecstory shake of his long
| yellow locks.
Silence immediately eDsued among the students,
each one of whom seemed eager 10 catch every sound
of their avorte professors de took out OF one
| of his side-pockets tumbled conglomeratlon OK
| manuscripts, with no more regularity Of form and
| order than SO much waste paper, and, throwing
| them down scattered before him, began TO hoid
forth What no sand he evidently did not read from
the writing lying about. for he never looked ~ an.l
| only touched IL 10 give It an occasional crumpe
with his hand, IN the course OF the energy OK ms
| action He knew but little, l fancy, OF
moral philosophy and much less OF political econ
omy, but his lectures, pleasantly niseursiye' were
time were orouchIns under his desk. and sometimes
heedlessIy about, would happen to tread upon the
leg or tail of one of the poor little creatures, and
| sharp yelp would be heard, piercing at once some
| oratorical windbag iu course of Imitation by the
| lecturer and causing sudden collapse and nniver
sal merriment. IN which Wilson would JOIN ~
| heartily An the resi-