Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-25

From the st. James' Gazette
A writer in the Scotsman has unearthed
an amusing anecdote of Thomas Carlyle as a
country ''dominie," for the accuracy of
which he vouches. 1t was told in 1858 by
Cupar Fife lawyer and provost who had been
one of Carlyle's pupils at Kirkcaldy, to the
writer and Hugh Miller. The interest of this
gentleman's "reminiscences of his old school
master was heightened by his utter uncon-
ssiousness that his old dominic was the
Thomas Carlyle who was then beginning to
be known to fame. Tho old gentleman de-
seribed the older race of Scottish school
ing their hats-at least keeping their heads
covered; and many of the boys, viewing the
peculiar angle at which the hat stood upon
the head, and how near It came to the eye
brows, could conjecture If the savage mood
were to be that day predominant.
"But my teacher" said the Provost, ga
strict and gloomy disciplinarian with the
name of Carlyle, never wore his hat in the
school; and, indeed, his brow was SO over
hung with dark threatening, and his large
glowing eyes constantly shot forth wrath,
| while his protruding chin was laden with
| scorn, that no extra expression to alarm us
was needed from his lum hatl He did not
thrash us either very often or very severely,
but we had fear that, If provoked, he
would go great lengths in punishment. I
have seen his mere soowl hush at once the
whole school. The biggest and boldest boys
specially dreaded his grins and his mocking
words. How savagsly his teeth were won't
to grind out the terms 'dunos' or block
| headp"
Hugh Miller hsre interposed by asking:
"Did your teacher ever burst into strange
laugh in schools" ''That is very odd ques-
tion," returned the Provost. "Why do you
aska But now that remember, he had at
us all stare. It had q train of queer chuck
ling which exploded in a succession of loud
and deep outlaws that shook his whole body
and displayed all his teeth like the keys of Q
piano. He then clapped his hands on ths
book he held against his knees; yet none Of
us ever knew at what he was laughing. HI
had grim smile in reproving pupils, and {
les as he told them that the heads would nev
er be worth the price of hats or the charg,
Of a barber, though mammas and aunts hai
that morning combed, kissed and blessed
them in pious wonder-as If they were teem
ing with the sublimest inventions and de
signs"
The Provost saw that Hugh Miller an,
some other guests were listening eagerly, an'
he proceeded: "One morning, few min
utes before the school hour, when most O
the pupils had arrived, and-as rain wa
falling-they had gone into the school,
donkey, which had broken loose from 1t
tether on q grassy spot near, was enterin
the playground. Bill Hood and were 8
far on our way; and Bill, who was q stou
, and frolicsome lad-the ringleader in man
sports and tricks-rushed to mount the an
NAL, and began to guide and force it into th
school. With desperate spurring, the don
key was induced to carry its rider over tn
, threshold; and what reception both Q
them got from the juvenile crowdsl Bags G
books were at once fastened to the tail an
: around the neck of the ass; and 30 bus
: were Bill and half dozen companions i