Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-02-12
SANDIE MACPHERSON


True Thomas" ms he was alfectionatcly
called by the generation to whom he told
SO many grim truths. had gone to him
Us literary asprant-one of the many
who, coming up from Scotland to fight for
fortune. carried letters of introduction to
the great man. The nation delighted to
honor him. and despite his dislike of the
literary class gpnCr 'ly, he never failed to
say a kind word t ANY young brother Scot
who sought his advice.
For some reason or Other he took TO me,
and though so many years his Junior be-
came frequent visitor ut his house and
received a great deal of his confidence. 1t
was one winter evening, as we sat alone
together in his study-that study which
was Il very Mecca to literary pilgrims of
al nations-t that he made the singular
confession which | am about to place on
record.
Let me explain the matter, as far as pos
sible. in his own words. despair of repro
lucing the peculiar accent and the deep,
pathetic burr" of his voice-whch he
preserved to the last-as well rs certain
eccentricities of pronunciation, which |
shall not initiate.
You think me IA successful man, and
such | allow, is the popular opinion.
Well maybe | have been successful he
yond my merits, which are small enough,
Lord knows but lest should grow daft
with my own self conceit the Lord sent
Sandie Macpherson to keep me humble!
at is Il huniiating confession to make,
but almost at any point of my long career,
from the very beginning. the thought of
having converted Sandle would have been
more precious to me than the admiration
of all the rest of the world Sandie, how
ever, never believed in me from the first
When published my first book my
chief thought was, What will Sandie Mac
pherson think of this?' and when | heard
the criticisms, which cut me up like
haggis right and left, ! could have borne
everything but the thought of how he
would gloat over them down yonder in
Scotland. | was somewhat consoed and
wee bit hopeful when. some years after
ward, | published my History for the
critics. knowing nothing of the subject,
praised it to IL man and talked havers
about my industry my originality and my
erudition. cared nothing for the critics.
but said to myself with Il smile. That's
one for Sandie Macpherson AT laStr'
"PerhapS You will be asking who Sandie
Macpherson Is that | set such store 10y his
GOOD Opmiony Well up till IL few months
20 you might have seen his name Alex
auder Mncphersuu is il WIS given bnD-
-iSmally-oyer the front OF Il small grocer's
mop in the Gallowgate of Glasgow
"Sandie and were schoolfclows.
We first met in the seminary and after
ward we attended the high school. As
mind Sandie now, he was a wee, snug
mouthed black aveezed laddie, with eyes
like IA hawk and Il stoop in the shoulders
From first to last he was ever at the top
of the class. He carried away all the
oriZes at the seminary. and when he came
10 the high school, among lads twice his
size ne was dux' of the class Such "A
memory as he had! 1t was wonderful,
wonderful He could repeat the whole
Latin Delectus with his ewes shut. and he
knew the whole of Euclid. when he were
pechiny over the Pons Asinorlm.
"The doctor himself was afraid of him.
As for me. where he was dux | WAS Ounce
had the taws nearly every day from the
doctor. and ever and ave. while | writbed
in my corner, could near the cry. Alex
ander MACPHERSON. tell Tammas CARLYLE
now to construe this or hat passape in the
Metamorphoses. Sometimes inst to shame
us. he was nut at the very bottom of the
class. and theu-Iord to see him Iouning
from place TO place. ike one running nm n
brae. and then standing. flushed and tri
umphant, in his old place. at the very TOP,
"Sandie's father was "A small tradesman
in Glasgow. and Won may he sure ne was
proud enough of his son. Sandie WAS eyer
spick and span, had the best of clothes
md a silver watch and chain given tn him
by his aunt on his birthday. His books
we're like himselt-clean white and ne,t
with no thumb marks or doy's leaves RI
disfpure the papes He wrote a beantifuI
hand like co,,nernlate and in the writing
class. IA we'll AS the rest ne was facile
prInceps Well might ne look with scorn
an nv slovenly dress my book thumbed
and torn and ON nv handwritin0 which
was i'll TO make ont as beathen Greek
"WelI might ne he held up to me as he
was. for a shining light and an examine
VCammas CARLYLE 90 ONT and wash vour
face: whes will We learn to be tidy like
Alexander Macphersony .Tammas vonr
hooks are a disgrace. do We no think shame
when We see the hooks of Alexander Mac.
nbersonp' For shame. Tammas. for shame
do Won ever see Alexander Macpberson
smoking bIack man i'm the midst n, school o
1Tammas your bandwritinp ia abomina.