Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-17
A BELOVED TEACHER.
Touching Story of John Veitch's Great
heartedness.


Speaking of the affection felt for John
Stuart Blackie by the students of Edin-
burgh University. Scotchman said the
other day that he knew of but one pro-
fessor who had been mere beloved by his
pupils-the late John Veitch of the Uni
versity of Glasgow. .
Professor Veitch or "Old Neitch," as
he was Familiarity known among the
Students occupied the chair of logic and
rhetoric for many years. He was of
Highland descent, and spoke at all
times with a broad Scotch accent,
which, when he became excited rem
dered 1t hard for any but a native to
understand him. AS a result the boys
used 10 take an especial delight in MAX
ing him angry, for the sake of hearing
the broad Scotch in which he would
pour out the scathing sarcasm Of which
he was master. One way of doing
this was 'roughing" or beating the
devils tattoo with their feet. creating
such an uproar that the professor would
be forced to dismiss the class after
| threatening dire vengeance on the
heads of the offenders-threats quite
forgotten before the next lecture.
Gentlemen p he would rear. eye are
no gentlemen! / newer did see sic a
parcel Of laddies. III just suggest TO
the faculty that it's at a DANES school
ye sud be-. an no at a respectable uni
versity All, yes may look ashamed O.
yersels 4 ken fine vino is the ringlead-
er o ye, AM as sure as my name is
| Veitch I'll hae him roosticated the day."
and so on, the students meanwhile ap-
plauding vigorously.
He usually had his classes under con-
troll, however, Notwithstanding these
! occasional outbreaks. Sometimes,
when he thought the students were try
ing to impose upon him, he would sud
denly stop his lecture, draw his gown
about him, throw back his. shoulders
and roar out, "Silencer' in a tone that
his hearers knew meant business. The
/ lecture would then proceed as though
nothing had happened.
Why he was so loved by his students
can best be explained. perhaps, by relat-
ing an incident that occurred during one
OF his lectures. 1t was in the rhetoric
class, and Prof Veitch thought a GER
tain student was not paying sufficient
attention to the lecture.
win the gentleman who is sleeping
on the last seat please stand up?" he
SAID somewhat sarcastically, pointing
straight at the culprit. The student at
4 once arose and was requested to read
aloud certain chapter from the book
on which the professor was lecturing
1t was rule in the class that when a
student was reading, he should hold the
4 book in his right hand. This student
however, held his book in his left hand
a circumstance which did not escape the
keen eye of Veitch
Hand your bulk in your RIGHT handrl
he commanded
The student murmured come reply
which the professor could not hear, con.
tinuing to hold the book as before.
'Haud your bulk in your RIGHT handr
I say! Are ye deef? Can ye no under
stan plain English?"
At this the students broke into q
storm of Kisses, and one of them, leaY-
ing his seat, went to the professor and
told him that the unfortunate student
had lost his right arm.
4 Veitchs face grew pale, then red
and with tears streaming down his face
he made his way through the class. 81
didna ken, laddie didna ken," he cried
as he put his arm over the STUDENT
shoulder. "Wi' all my heart I'm sail
grieved for what I said. VIII ye no
forgive me?"
A hush fell upon the classroom, an6
many of the students were almost, if MOI
quite, in tears, Returning to the dais
Veitch drew his gown around him in the
way they knew so well, and said very
quietly:
Gentlemen, I'm prood o ye the day
) Ye've tocht an auld man a lesson HI
sairly needed. Ye hissed me and
deserved it. But, gentlemen, / didn,
, ken that the ALMIGHTY had afflicted hin
sac grievously. l Gamma continue tn
! lecture the day. The class is dis
: missed"
! When the students had left the class
room, one Of the younger among then
remarked that they had forgotten tn
customary cneer. "Haud yer whisht
lad said another. lyon was no tn
time nor place for cheerin'."
L. H. G. in New York Commercial Ad
vertiser.