The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-19
INSIST ON GETTING A

he be held up to me. as he was. for shin
ing light and an example. Tammas Car
I've, go out and wash your face; when VIII
We learn to be tidy. like Alexander Mac
pherson" Tammas, your books are dis
grace; do We no think shame when we see
the books of Alexander Macpherson"
For shame. Tammas, for shame; do you
ever see Alexander Macpherson sucking
black man in the midst o school?' Tam
mas, your handwriting is abomination;
Alexander, set him a copy yourself. TO
show him how a lad should write These
were the cries forever in my ears. What
wonder If / grew to look on Sandie as a
superior being-to be eaZed at with ad-
miration and envy, to be initiated with awe
and fear?
1T was just the same story when we
went to college.
We met there on our former footing;
that is to say, he distinguished himself,
usual, while 1 watched him from
respectful distance. Few words ever
passed between us, for We had never been
on speaking terms-either in or out or
school. But the relationship between US
was clearly understood. Sometimes as he
passed me in the street, wearing grandly
his red college gown and his college nat
while l crept along with my gown on my
arm. he would give me a patronizing nod;
that was all. We began Greek and moral
philosophy under the same professors. 1t
of both. He drank in learning like his
mothers milk. From the first Greek to the
second and third, followed him laborious-
of some splendid eagle whom IT seeks to
emulate in vain.
After we left college 1 lost sight of him
for some years. l believe he might nave
received bursary and gone to Oxford, but
his father, proud as he was of his attain
mGnts, did not want to spoil him Tor trade,
and withdrew him before he had complet-
ed his course. / myself took to pupil
teaching, having not yet decided to try my
fortune in literature.
But one day, fired by sudden enthu-
II l.ft fhA nun
Herald on some question Of the day. Ii
was printed next morning in all the glory
of large type, and signed Thomas car
lyle 1t was the proudest day Of my life.
but, alas! it was destined TO be overcloud-
ed. Towards afternoon 1 entered coffee
shop and saw In the compartment next to
me his head buried in the paper. human
figure. The paper the Herald, open
at the page containing my letter sat
blushing with all the pride of fresh-blown
authorship. Presently the face looked up
and saw, to my surprise my old school
fellow. Sandie Macpherson. Our eyes met.
but his stony orbs gave no sign or rec
ignition. Then he turned to the paper
again and smiled! Yes he was reading my
letter. 1t might astonish the public, but
ii could not impose upon him. There were
Latin and Greek quotations in IL and frag-
ments OF moral philosophy: how ashamed j,
baleful eyei He smiled again, placed down
the paper. paid his reckoning and walked
out of the shop without word. l went
H.
grand airs before the public, but one man
knew my measure, and that man was
Sandie Macpherson.
1T was no use arguing with myself that
the man was an idiot; that, although he
was glib at uptaking what was taught him,
he had neither talent nor originality. The
memory of those early days haunted me
like a shadow.
II am not going to weary you-and my
self-with history Of my literary strug-
giles till 1 conquered the booktaster, the
sl.~ .r.d hsa-
came a recognized producer of the popular
literary article. Years passed away. In
the course of years / emigrated to LONDON
on the invitation of John Mill, the phllos-
opher. Then L published my first book,
and, L have told you, 1t was a failure
i retrieved myself by my second, which
was about half as good and not near so
earnest the first. 1 still had Glasgow
and Sandie Macpherson in my mind when
/ failed or succeeded, but in course OF ume
the impression grew DINNER ana ma, DINNER i
ing from the North, where he had been lee
turing on some political subject spoke to
me as follows:
BY the way, Carlyle. I met an old
schoolfellow of yours in Glasgow.
".Ay, indeed? / said. feeling the blood
mount TO my face in moment.
"A man named Macpherson. A small
tradesmen and member or the local club
which took me down. A prosy fellow, and
very sarcastic. He amused me very much
with his dry "reminiscences or your school
days, and seemed greatly astonished that
you had made any mark in the world
II forced a laugh, but felt hot and cold
all over.
DO you remember him." proceeded Mill.
He remembers you wonderfully
:" Il am not sure l returned, with care
lessness Il believe there was a lad OF that
name in the class with me, but I've almost
forgotten him. Its-its long time ago.
"A year or so after that / went down TO
Glasgow on business. BY that time I had
made a name for myself. and my visit
caused big stir in the city. stayed with
the lord provost-a silly man, with a snig-
gering taste for philosophy After few
days / grew very weary OF being lionized
for nearly every day there was grand din
.ner, and / was bored to death with the ad-
miration of daft folk OF both sexes One
forenoon, as / was wandering about the
streets booking at the old houses and call
ing TO mind the places had known when
lad. passed down the Gollowgate and saw
the name of Alexander Macpherson over
a small srocer's shop. Now, I was in a
sympathetic mood that day: the contem-
plation ,d old scenes and the thought OF
the kindn sss OF my countrymen had touched
my heart. and IL melted suddenly AT fhe
name of my old school-fellow Could n nos
sibly be the same? Before knew vbat
was doing had entered the shop
Yes: ] was right There, standing b.