The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-03

l had made name Tor myself and my
visit caused stir in the city STAYED
with the Lord Provost a silly man. with
a staggering taste for philosophy. After
a few days | grew very weary of being
for nearly every day there was
a grand dinner, and was bored to death
with the admiration of daft folk of both
sexes. One forenoon as was wander
inc about the streets looking at the old
houses and calling to mind the places /
had known when a lad, l passed down
the Gallowgate and saw the name of
Alexander Macpherson over a small
grocer's shop. Now, was in a sympa-
thetic mood that day; the contemplation
of old scenes and the thought of the
kindness of my countrymen had touched
my heart, and itmelted suddenly at the
name of my old schoolfellow. Could it
possibly be the same? Before knew
what l was doing | had entered the
shop.
"Yes, was right. There, standing
behind the counter, was Sandie, himself,
older, grimmer, but neat and clean as
usual. As | entered he was measuring
out pound of moist sugar for bare
footed servant lassie in petticoat and
short gown.
MIR. Macpherson9' 1 said, when he
had done.
He looked up and our eyes met, l
saw in moment that he recognized me,
but his face remained grim and granite
and his eye was cold as ice.
That's my name he replied
Il smiled, and prepared to ho1esett
my hand.
Il think we were schoolmatest together.
My name is Carlyle, Thomas Carlyle.
Do you mind [remember me?' ~
He looked at me from head to foot.
His eve rested on my old cloak. nv
broad brimmed hat, and he nodded
darkly, as'he replied: H' 3if@5 n
Il mind We well enough. Can I serre
ye NTH a'aytbjRg@.s..s al. 4g,f
Nothing, thanks; only | was passing
and | Thought should like to remind
you of our old acquaintanceship,'
''As spoke, Sandie proceeded leisure
ly with his business behind the counter
opened his till and looked into, it; took
down a piece of loaf sugar and began
breaking it into small portions. He
gave sort of grunt asI finished my adj
dress to him and nodded again; then.
after a pause, while l stood hesitating,
he observed quietly, surveying me criti-
cally from head to foot: 's7il l9
You're staying up in London, 1
hear?' rt.. .,,i'
Yes 't''
You're what they call leeterary
man, nooP' iN ff ad ~
just so,' Il replied, smiling good
naturally, but feeling rather ashamed.
Z" 'AtWeel,' said Sandie, reHectively,
as he swept up his pieces Of sugar and
put them into a large jar, 'atweel, Lon
don's a big place and they call it the
centre of ceevilization;, but'-here he
shut the lid of the jar sharply-'Mony
things please the folk in London that
wouldna gang doom in Glasgow
'What he meant could hardly gather;
it was mere general reflection, but l
felt somehow that it had a personal APP
plication. A long pause ensued. Istood
awkwardly waiting in front of the
counter, but Sandie did not seem in
clined for further conversation. At last,
feeling rather uncomfortable, ] deter
mined to put an end to the interview.
GO We'll, I'll wish you good morning.
| said, moving to the shop door.
"'Good morning. grunted Sandie,
not raising his eyes from his desk and
ledger, to which he had just gone.
81 walked out of the shop, indignant
at the mans imperturbabilty Glanc-
ing back from the pavement l saw San
dies face quietly regarding me over his
ledger-and SmiLtHg-iust as it had
smiled when | saw him reading my first
effort in literature. He was certainly
quite irreconcilable.
about this period of my career, as
you may remember, was particularly
severe in my writings on the British
Philistine and ON the sordid, self-con-
ceited, money-grabbing secularity of the
trading classes in this country. de-
nounced the hypocrisies of Sodom and
the fiesh-pots of Gomorrah. The press
took UP my cry, and Philistinism had
bad time of it. Poor idiots, they thought
that | had grievance against society.
Nothing of the kind. l was only trying
to pave my revenge on Sandie Macpher-
son! S
a'"For, wrestle as might against him
the man had mastered me, Folk, might
compare me to John the Baptist preach
ing in the wilderness, they might say
that l had come to preach honesty and
independence, pure living and high
thinking, to q rotten generations, but
Sandie Macpherson knew better. Sandie
san through me. 1t was no use posing as
a great thinker and teacher before him.
| minded his words: 'Mony things
please the folk in London that wouldna
gang doom in Glasgow 1t was humil-
iating, to say the least of it. Much as l
de5pised the fellow, his attitude of in
vincible stupidity was something Titanic.
To the bedside of the heather Emperor
slave used to come each morning, saving.
Philip, remember you must die! To
my bedside, for many day came the
spirit of Sandie, saying: Thomas Car
lyle, remember you're a poor creature.
and 1 kpOw hn
:" | thought to have my revenge on
Sandie; at last, they made me Lord Rec
tor of the University of Glasgow.
''More proud and exultant than you can
think, | went down to my natal city to
deliver the rectorial address. | was an
old man by this time, and had a great
name all over the world. Such recep
ton as they gave me! ASH stood in tile
large hall, with the professors and cit;-