The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-20
THE ETATELY PILE OF MARI
 CHAL COLLEGE.


 CHAL COLLEGE.
 When the king goes north to his highland residence next month he is to pay a visit on the 27th, to Aberdeen for the quarter-centenary celebrations of the citys university, and to open the latest and last additions to that state ly pile known as Marichal college, which now forms a large part of the university buildings.
 His majesty will see what is perhaps the largest granite structure in the world. From first to last over SOOO0 tons of the whitest gray granite that was eyer quarried and dressed have been used in the erection of the college, and the effect is such that on bright day, when the sun shines on its finely chiselled face, it has all the appearance of a marble palace. It is built in the Gothic style of architecture of the English Perpendicular period with a magnificent front treatment, including the carving of a series of escutcheons in the solid stone over the noble arch way, and fine hall named Liter the late. Dr. Mitchell of Newcastle, its don- or as two of its chief features. It has a frontage of four hundred feet, ex- tends backwards six hundred feet and possesses a tower rising two hundred and sixty feet, Mir Marshall Macken- zie, who has been intrusted with many important London commissions, is the architect.
 There is one defect; it is badly situa- ted, being hemmed in by unattractive buildings, and fronting street called Broad, but in reality very narrow. Dy and by, perhaps, the town and it's benefactors, having jumped over the dog, may jump over its tail, and, by clearing away the houses immediately in front, provide worthy approach to one of the finest temples of learning to be found anywhere.
 On the extension alone a sum of two hundred thousand odd pounds has been spent. Dr. Mitchell and his son and Lord Strathcona, the present chancel- Tor, contributed largely, while the gov ernment gave a grant Of forty thou sand pounds sterling.
 The interest of the celebrations will be further enhanced by the presence of savants from all parts of the world. Every university in the two hemis- pheres is to be represented, and other learned institutions are sending dele gates. The British contingent will be large, as well as representative. There will be at least four members of the cabinet, the prime minister, the war sec retary, the chief secretary for Ireland, and the secretary for Scotland. Seven peers-the Duke of Fife, Lord Avebury, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Lord Jeith of Fyvie, Lord Mount Stephen, Lord Roberts, whose portrait still has the pride of place in many a Scottish home, and, of course, Lord Stratheo- na-have already accepted invitations.
 Science in its many branches will Be worthhy represented by such distin- guished men as Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir Norman Lockyer, Sir w. Ramsay, Sir W. Crookes, Sir A. GellSie, Sir Robert Ball, Signor Marconi and Professor Flinders Petrie. Among the members of the medical profession will be Sir Frederick Treves, who is lord rector of the university; Sir Francis Laking, Sir w. Broadbent, and Sir J. Crichton- Browne; and the list also includes the archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Edward Fry Sir Henry Roscoe, and Major Ross, the sworn enemy of the microbe. Notable names are likewise to be found in the long list of delegates from abroad.
 Since Aberdeen discovered it's beach 1t has grown accustomed to large in- tiux of visitors, and in the days of Queen Victoria even kings were callers on their way to Balmoral Castle, but the brain of the usually undemonstra- tive Aberdonian reels at the thought of such galaxy as will be seen in the Granite City next month.
 It was early conceded by the inhabi- tants that they must rise to the occa- sion-that there would be no 'bang went saxpense'' parsimony in the prep arations for welcoming and entertain 1 ing the distinguished strangers. But Lord Strathcona's first lead completely took their breath away. His lordshir intimated that he desires to give q banquet to all the delegates. as well a, those prominently connected with the university and the government of tht town. When the guests were mum. bered the officials found that they would require to provide for twenty. four hundred people, and they wer, faced with the difficulty that in nc building in the city could more than 7 thousand people sit down to dinner to- gether. In their dilemma they ap pealed to the chancellor of the universi ty. Well" said his lordship, philo sophically Eff you haven't hall yo, must build one"
 I "But that would be terrible ex pense," protested the thrifty officials.
 A convenient site adjoining the uni
 versity having been found, hall i
 now in course of erection. It will be
 substantial building covering a spac
 of two hundred feet square. and. al
 though only to be used for one night
 will cost three thousand pounds t construct As an additional thirty-si hundred pounds is to be spent on th I banquet, it will take two pounds flftee shillings to dine each guest. "Awfull
 in the opinion of the Aberdeen people
 is +ha only word that can adaoua tel