New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-28

n
College life. ny J. NJ. Barrie, Author OF "Thc
Little MInstertr 12mo. PIP. 1877. Lowell Coryell
Co
With much play Of irony and epigram, and with
warm affection and appreciation also, Mr.. Barrie
discourses concerning some Of his more famous
professors end fellow-studcnts al Edinburgh.
ThHse "portralts- are drawn with the lightcst OF
touches yet with colOrs so true 70 nature that
these strangers stand out before US alive and po-
tent TO attract and impress. The opening sketch,
devoted to Lord Rosebery, Is the least sparkling
Of the series Int IL contains characteristic an
ecdote Of Blowitz the Great. who once graciously
reported conversation between Lord Rosrbery
and Irince Bismarck az which the correspondent
did not happen 70 bc present. Rosebery, who Is
q man Of humor. was introduced TO Blowitz some
time aftcrward, and complimentcd him on his
report "Ah, il was all right, was ii p said the
correspondent, delighted. Lord Rosebery en-
PINNED that any fault 1t had was that it was all
wrong iooyi,z the Blaming In no wise
daunted. Then II Bismarck did not say that 10
you," said he, i know he intended to say it,
OF Professor Mason, OF the glorie5 OF his
University, Barric's student "reminiscences are
delightful The mans own enthusiasm seems
10 throb on the page which shows him entering
the classroom so full Of what he had to say
that he began before he reached his desk. There
is n pleasant picture of the noted lecturer adj
dressing the noisy back benches of the ineyita-
BILE students TO whom literature is n trial. and
politely hoping that his lecture was not dis
turbing their conversation. II was characteristic
Of his passion for being Just, adds Mr. Barrie,
that when he had criticised some writer Sc
vercly he would remember that the back benches
could not understand that criticism and admira-
ton might 60 together. unless they were told
l. La. ~ ~ lat
by one SO thoroughly man OF letters himself
is worth quoting. BY a man Of letters, Mr..
Barrie says, Mason does not mean the poet. for
instance who is all soul, so much MS the strong
Drained writer whose guardian angel is a fine
sanity We will not quarrel with this deflni-
ton. for il it be not particularly far-rcaching, il
is shrcwd and practical 1t might probably be
conceded without too much strain ones con-
vietions that Shelley and Burns were not men
Of letters.
As editor OF Mncmillan's, Mason knew all
the most notable English authors OF his time
whether men OF letters or no-and hath stories
galore TO tell in quiet times OF frcsidc smoke.
One OF these concerns the way in which Dickens
and Douglas Jerrold made up their quarrel in
the strangers room OF the Garrick Club. Each
had friends at dinner, and sat back TO back
They had not spoken for year, and did not
address each other though the convers't on was
general AT last Jerrold could stand IL no
longer Turning, he exclaimed, 'Chnrey. my
boy how are you'' Dickens wheeled round
and grasped his hand and the two friend.
again. There was no plant OF bitterness in those
two warm hearts strong enough to defy the
sunshine.
John Stuart Backie most entertaining Of Greek
professors and most whimsical Of men. is the sub
Icct Of n paper ns whimsical rs himself. His old
students merry jcsts concerning the professors evil
propensity 10 write sonncts will he appreciated by
ANYBODY who has been condemned to read those
same sonnets Writing OF Calderwood. Professor Of
Moral Philosophy. Mr.. Barrie gives us some amusing
recollectons Of the class There is the stu
dent who tnkes liberty for license on debating
day. meaning to turn the laugh on Caldcrwood-
and then Caldcrwood takes advantage OF him.
and the other students laugh at the wrong per.
SON." There is the student "who was never
struck by anything in moral philosophy until he
lNs rncd by Incident that Dcscartcs lay in bed till
about IL O'Clock every morning; then It dawned
on him that he, too. must have been philosopher
all his life without knowing it Then there Is
the student who was questioned about PROPOSE
ton 10 see that he thoroughly understood IT,
Give an illustration suggested the professor.
The student took the case Of a murderer Very
good said the professor. Now. give me another
illustrations The student pondered for q little.
Well he said at length, take the of another
murderer - MIR. Barrie records some OF the hui
mors Of examinations to which every university
can contribute a goody store. lie remembers one
competitor who looked for his hat and the door
as soon as he saw the first paper; who was for
hidden TO withdraw until an hour had elapsed,
and who then tackled the paper and carried OH
the prize. "Of more immediate interest, per-
haps." adds Mr.. Barrie. was the story OF the
quaking student. whose ncighbor handed him
in pencil beneath the desk the answer TO erv-
eral questions IL was in an NJ. A. exam. and
the afTrighted student found that he could
not read ms neighbors notes. Trusting ~
fortune. he inclosed them with his own answers.