New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-24
JAMES M'COSH.
A SCHOLAR AND A GOOD MAN.

THE LIFE OF JAMES McosH Record Ghisay
Sloane. Nth Portraits Svo Pp vi 2SI Charles
Scr5ners Sons.
There are two men portrayed in this DOOR,
which 10 a sketch not fully limned out rather
than complete biography-Dr. McCosh. the
college don and the philosopher. stately fig
ure physically and intellectually, akin to the
great scholars Of the old school, and Jimmy
McCosh. the kindly old Scotchman. trying hard
to be severe with the boys when rebuking their
misdeeds, but often trying in vain, simple
homely and lovable figure. Sometimes these TWO
men became so blended that Il was not easy TO
distinguish them. But even then the two were
there; and oftentimes when you thought you
were talking to the one you found yourself face
to face with the other. They differed IN certain
outward characteristics, but each possessed the
same warm and impulsive heart. What Prince
ton boy who knew him does not remember this
most human Of college presidents With smile
and a tear? How fine he was in his bursts OF
righteous indignation, how relentless and In
exorable as the trembling culprit stood before
him. How ne sputtered over the "deesgrace 10
the college" involved in some boyish escapade!
And then. when as "Prex" he had exhausted his
wrath. and the offender felt that nothing less
than a cataclysm impended. how insensibly the
stern features of the "Prex' melted into the
poorly hidden smile Of the Jimmy known and
loved OF all Princeton boys. This was the man.
sturdy son Of North Britain by lineage and
birth, but loyal and true American by adoption
and choice. who for twenty years ruled over the
destinies of the College Of New-Jersey. and did
30 much to mako 1t the great institution 1t Is
to-day.
The origin Of the McCosh family was Celtic;
the name signifies son Of foot" and as MAJ
ter of fact many members Of the family VINO
emigrated 20 England took the name OF Foot or
Foote But in course Of time the McCoshes De-
came so intermingled with Anglo-Saxon oiooo
-tat they displayed all the characteristics OF the
lowand Scot. The earliest recorded ancestor Oh
James McCosh Is Jasper McCosh. who died IN
1927 His grave Is in the parish churchyaro OF
Straiton a village Of Ayrshire. In southwestern
Scotland, situated on the banks OF the GirVan
River near Loeb Doom. The McCoshes were all
tvn,cal Scots in their devotion to the principles
OF the Reformation. and they suffered persecu-
ton when Charles II s.rove to impose Eplsco-
macy upon the Scotch Preebyterians lhey were
not aristocrats; butafor all that they were
proud family. Stern'in their ideas OF moraitE'
they were nevertheless charitable. and they had
a lively appreciation of the apostolic injunction.
a
Some NJ them had endured persecution and even
death for "Ch-sts Grown and Covenant as
they designated their ecclesiastical principles.
They were mddle-class folk. but they were peo-
pie of substance being for the most part large
forners tending their focks and herds on the
bills above. and cultivating the dales below with
Industry and success
Andrew McCosh. the father of James. was an
Gov IF
acres and the memory Of whose piety and good
deeds long survived IT was only nine years Of
age when my father died in 1920 said Dr. Nc
Gosh In tribute to his memory. But l remem-
her so much. and saw so much Of his work re-
manning, as to know that the account given
above ,s correct and proud Of It, Almost
every evening a beggar. a family OF beggars'
was ant TO appear about nghtfall: they got
bed IN the stable and substantial supper ana
breakfast remember that my father kept IN MS
kitchen a poor idiot man, whom we youngsters
used to plague. and that we were rebuKed lor IT,
He gave homes to several poor women on MS
farm" His mother was fine type or the SANITY
and canable Scottish woman, and DR.. McCosh
said he owed much of his character BY heredlty
TO her
AYRSHIRE Is we'll fitted TO produce men who
believe in plain living and high thinking, though
Robert Burns born at the mouth OF the Doom,
can hardly be said TO illustrate the first OF these
two virtues The noble scenery MADE deep
impression on young McCosh. He drank IN ts
hlstory-the region had been the scene OF STIR
ring adventures in the days Of Wallace and
the deeds of many of the old Covenanters VINO
opposed the hated prelacy made 1t seem holy
ground 70 the Scottish lad. There was, too, a
darker side to the picture that reused his re-
ug,ous instincts There had been q declension
n, faith and morals. The intense zeal or the
old DAYS had been replaced by religious indiner-
ence and the "moderates'' held sway. while the
tombs of the earlier martyrs were noss-grown
and forgotten.
Young McCosh soon came to feel that moderat-
ism was no true expression OF Christianity as un-
ders,ood by the Presbyterian Church. AS ne
grew older he learned that the declenson OF re-
Ngion followed the Patronage act OF III, "hich
took away the power Of appointing ministers
from the parishes He became more ana more
convinced Of the unrighteousncss OF this, and II
was therefore entirely natural that In later HE
ne should throw himself into the Free Church
movement 1t was also natural that ne shouio
attach much Importance TO vital piety. Inc
favor1te text of the "moderates. BE moderate IN
all things" was no favorite with James McCosh
There was nothing especially noteworthy IN
his career at the Universities OF Glasgow ana
Edinburgh. He was by no means a prodigy as
student He admired and probably envied the
precocious lads who stood at the head OF their
classes; and yet he was destined to become more
famous than any Of them. Shy and proud. the
young Ayrshire boy made few acquaintances,
and so was able to give most Of his time to his
books His faculties developed slowly; but when
he learned q thing he learned It for all time. He
revelled in Scott. Moore and Byron. finding in
them a needed stimulus when wearied by the
hare and narrow curriculum Of the University.
Young McCosh at once showed strong bent
toward the study OF the human mind. AS early
az h,s sixteenth year he resolved TO throw HIM