River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-01-11

Philistine, and on the sordid, self-con-
ceited, money-grubbing secularity ofthe
trading classes in this country. | de-
nounced the hypocrisies of Sodom and
the fleshpots of Gomorrah. The press
took up my cry, and Philistinism had
bad time of it. Poor idiots, they thought
that | had a grievance against society.
Nothing of the kind. ! was only trying
to have my revenge on Sandie Macpher-
sonp'
For wreste as l might against him,
the man had mastered me- Folks might
compare me to John the Baptist preach
ing in the wilderness, they might say
that | had come to preach honesty and
Independence, pure living andhigh think
ing, to rotten generations, but Sandie
Macpherson knew better. Sandy saw
through me. 1t was no use posing as q
great thinker and teacher before him.
| minded his words, 'Mony things please
the folk in London that would ma gang
doom in Glasgow 1t was humiliating,
to say the least of it. Much as despis-
ed the fellow, his attitude of iGvincible
stupidity was something Titanic. To the
bedside of the heather Emperor slave
used to come each morning crying,
Philip, remember you must diev To
spirit of Sandie, saying, Thomas Erc:l-
douna, remember you're poor crea-
ture;' and know i'll
81 thought to have my revenge on
Sandie at last, the day they made me
Lerd Rector ofthe Glasgow University"
"More proud and exultant than You
can think, l 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 a recep-
ton as they gave mel AS | stood
in the large hall, with the Profess
sors and citizens around me, the stu
dents in their thousands cheering me,
fine ladies in the galleries smiling down
upon me, / felt that had reached the
height of my ambition. addressed
them like man inspired. / spoke of
my early days, my struggles, my fond
ness for the country of my birth, and l
ir The middle of a snlandid nernra-
ton, when, all of q sudden, became
conscious of mans face looking quitely
mp at me One mans face in all the sea
OF facesl But | knew 1t only too we'll
grim. cold. hard as granite, yet with q
kind of plying smile upon lt--WEoSe
face could it be but the one | had
dreaded all my life? The words went
out of my head, and / ended feebly, sit
ting down into my chair with q sigh OF
relief when had finished. The
next day there was columns in the pa
oS7s, and in the course of the long re-
port something to this effect: "At
this point of his discourse, allud-
city, Mr.. Ercildoune was visibly affected
His emotion was touching to witness
and he almost broke down; but amidst
the loud cheering of his enormous audi
ence he at last concluded his magniii-
cent address, 'Visibly affected, indeedl
and touching emotionp They little
knew that my speech was nearly ruined
by the sinister influence of Sandy Mac
pherson."
The great man paused, half amused
half angry, at the remembrance of his
odd experience. Reaching out his
hand, he took down pipe from the
mantel piece, filled andlitit, and smoke d
for some minutes in silence, with his
sad eyes fixed upon the fire. | sat
watching him reverently and wonder
ingly. At last he broke the silence:
81 never saw Sandie again after that"
about year ago, however, an old
friend, a minister of the Kirk, coming
on visit from Glasgow, informed me
that my former schoolfeIlow, who was
ono VI MS CuH2ISSdIlull3 utlu IeCclltIg
died. My friend had been with him
frequently during his last illness. l
asked, not without anxiety if the poor
fellow had still remembered me?"
"My friend smiled.
ooh, yes, he remembered you we'll"
he replied, "and only a few days before
his death he spoke about you"
Indeed! and what did he say?' |
said carelessly.
"Shall l give you his very words"
asked my friend, laughing merrily.
Certainly"
They're telling me- he said, that
Ercildoune has just written another
book Lord, Minister, surely the world
has gone clean daft What can folks see
in such lily sumph* as yon2"
$50 Sandie passed away" concluded
TIE philosopher, land, now whatever hap
pens to me, know that my career must
be considered failure; for the one dream
of my existence, to make an impression
on Sandie Macpherson has been render
ed impossible forever"-Robert Bu-
chanan. in Belgrayia.