The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-20
THE FAMOUS DR. M'COSH:
a Genial and Famous Scotchman
When in the College of
New Jersey.
Philosopher, But No Dreamer, a
Scholar, But No eRecluse,,
Preacher and Teacher.
Tells of the Traits of His Country.
men and Their rlorals
and Habits.

1l1SAA 14AAkA AASAA Ava s41S
and Habits.
Prof. W. M. Sloane has turned his at,
te1tion from the life Of Napoleon Bona.
parte just long enough to edit the auto
biography Of a very different mantle
late James McCosh, president Of the Col
lege of New Jersey. I have been fur
nished with the advance sheets of this
book by It's publishers, the Messrs. Scrib-
ner, and have found it not only work
of extreme importance, but one in which
the seriousness is relieved by a broad
vein of Scotch humor, writes Jeanette
L. Glider.
Ishave very vivid recollection Of DR.
McCosh, though I was not acquainted
with him. l heard him preach in the old
First Presbyterian Church of Newark, N
T.. within a short time after he came to
this country, and used to see him con.
stantly at the Messrs. Scribner's book
store when it was at No. 473 Broadway
His tall figure, sometimes wrapped In
thick woolen shawl, was notable one
az he passed up through the aisles Of
books to the publishers private offices al
the rear of the store fully block from
the front door.
Prof. Sloane sums up the character OF
the man in a few able words In his In
PRODUCTION to the book:
"He was philosopher, but no dream
er; scholar, but no recluse; a preacher
but no ideologue; a teacher, but no mar
tinet: he was thinker, public leader
and a practical man of affairs"
DR.. McCosh's associates at Princeton
induced him to set down from time to
time such "reminiscences as appeared to
him instructive or entertaining, and
these were intrusted for keeping to
his son and family friend as materials
for his biographer when the time should
come for critical estimate of his life and
work.~.That time is, OF course, still dis
tant, but in the meanwhile, such has
been the desire Of his coworkerR and pu-
pills, and of many in the general public
for some permanent record Of the facts
aud dates of his life, that it was thought
best to arrange the available material
and to publish it as early as possible fol
the qualification Of those concerned
DR.. McCosh was born in Ayrshire, not
far from the birthplace Of Robert Burns
His people belonged to the middle class
His father was prosperous farmer and 6
man of intelligence, who unfortunately
died when his famous son was only
years old. In his autobiographical notes
DR.. McCosh says:
II was born on April 1, 1911, at my
fathers farm house, called Carskeoch. Il
any one has choice of a place of birth
and training, let him fix upon farm
house Il learned when in Ireland to COM
NIT Irish bulls) and always to be under
q father or mother, without whom no ex-
ternal advantages can benefit the child
The boy Is thus surrounded with objects
fitted to interest him and call forth his
energies. Here wandered at my own
free will, following my thoughts and fan.
cies among green and heather, hills and
valleys, among trees and rocks anG
brooks (Scottice burns). Here became
interested in wild plants, such as lilies
roses, meadow sweet, and fox gloves
Here found birds flying, chirping, o.
curiously building their nests, Here
had sheep and lambs every boy should
have his motherless lamb as peD; here
I had horses and foals, hens and ducks
geese and turkeys. Here I.had my collie
dog called Famous and my pony
called Cuddy.' The boy should watch
the ways of all these creatures; he shoult
care for them and feed them; in short
should make them his friends"
! Although he was Scot to his finger tips
SAr MoCo-h r1orfoot11y ouo Of fhr
peculiarities of his countrymen. He says
of them:
"Of all the people have met with, the
Scotch have the least of what we cal
manners in their intercourse with the
members Of their family, with neighborS
and with the world generally. The Scot
loves his family, and would make any sac
rif1ce for them, but he seldom utters a
word Of compliment to them. He doubts
the sincerity Of such words and acts, and is
apt to regard them as hypocrisy, having
some selfish end In vieW and speaks O!
them as Frenchifed and unworthy Of AT
4. honest Scotchman. confess have Otter
been repelled by the cool manner in which
Scotch people, after long absences, or in
critical emergencies, often meet with each
y other. I remember going up to a mos,
7 excellent man to comfort aim when he was
& trying to restrain his tears as he hung over
\ the body Of his son, just deceased. I was
i chilled when all he could utter was This i
a flne day, SIR We can thus account fol
some Of the oddities of Thomas Carlyle.
have known number of ministers like
him. He was at one time nearly becom-
INK minister, and a curious minister he
would have been. We are amazed to reaG
sthatshe was often cold and Indifferent, a,
I dimes rude, to his wife; but he loved her ali
4 theawhile, and would have died for her al
/ any time. & u III. N. 4, s;s
"a The morals. Of the Scotch people when
DR.. McGosh was a young man were Il q
sad cond tion Intempe was the
order Of the day. III Ii;9ss 4. ~
#s ssI.1e great body Of the people did not
I drink to excess, but there was use of ar
dent spirits On Ill pccasio ions at ehr.sten-
sings. 81 weddings; at all fann..ly and al Al
\ aocia1 gatherin The farmer could not
4 sell horse, q COW or a calf ~. tthout being
s0bligad to give rink to- the buy On
New ear 81 the dren were accuss
c1l(ss oneSds lux Sttye present the teacher
who ga th6 sIarges sum
lbslHS for
ll lss4I'