Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-29


Forgot to Name It for the King.
The institution was founded in 1882, and
is. therefore, younger than the UNIVERSE
ties of Glasgow, st. Andrews and Aber-
deem. Robert Reid, a prosperous citizen.
left 5000 marks as a foundation for uni
versity in 1853. and Mary Queen OF Scots
drew a charter for such an institution. but
IT was lost sight of in the turbulent years
Of her reign. It was not until 1882 that
the town council decided that the capital
of Scotland ought to have an institution
of higher learning and secured the
royal appreciation" of Mary's son. still in
his teens. who gave them his gracious per-
mission to name the college after himself,
which they never did. and when his maj
esty left Edinburgh for London they
seemed to forget all about it. but in
stead it became THE University Of Ed
inburgh."
Of st. Andrews. was called to organize
the new institution, and. for the first year.
he was chancellor, regent. rector. princi-
pal. master. dean. librarian and the en-
tire faculty. He had to do all the teach
ing himself and for convenience enrolled
all the students in one class. The next
year he was allowed the assistance of
Duncan Marin, who shared the labor with
him on the same basis, and for four years
these two versatile pedagogues taught
Latin. Greek. Hebrew. rhetoric. meta
physics, mathematics. philosophy law,
theology and everything else under the
direction OF the members Of the town coun-
Gil. The municipal authorities have al
ways meddled more or less with the at
fairs of the college and have had a de-
one time. when the son of the lord pro-
vost required disciplining to degree that
the young man did not approve. he ap-
pealed to his father. who removed the
principal. as the president has always
been called, and assumed the duties and
prerogatives Of that position himself.
In the earlier days of the university 8
existence the annual examinations al
ways took place in the presence of the
town council who might not have known
and the approval of that body was re-
quired before degree could be conferred.
Old Fashioned, But Satisfactory.
There could have been no complaint as
to the amount Of time devoted to study,
for the terms lasted from the first OF
October to the end Of August, eleven
months, with a weeks vacation at Christ
mas. at Easter, and after St. Johns day
In midsummer. The classes assembled
at 6 o'clock in the morning in winter and
5 o'clock in summer. and the study hours
extended until 8 o'clock in summer and
3 O'Clock in winter.
The regent" system prevailed from the
beginning in 1852 until 17O8. under which
the same instructor carried the same class
from the day they entered as freshmen
until they passed their final examina-
lions and were graduated in all subjects
from Alpha to Omega. This unique prac-
tice was gradually abandoned. and those
professors who had distinguished them
selves in special subjects gave exclusive
AT n md
ganized in law, medicine, the sciences
and the arts. the languages and the
ologies.
Notwithstanding these old fashioned
velOpment. the graduates of the Cniver-
sity of Edinburgh have no cause to COM
plain of the instruction they have re-
ceived in any branch of learning. Its
methods seem to have been odd and old
fashioned but satisfactory, and adapted
to the needs of its students. This is
demonstrated by the success and influence
of the large number of its alumni. who
have assumed professional and intellect
ual leadership in all lines of human activ-
ity and in all parts Of the universe. The
attendance has always been large. and
for two centuries Edinburgh has had
more students than any other institution
in the United Kingdom. 1t has twice as
many names upon its rolls as either OK
ford or Cambridge and three times the
number that has attended St. Andrews
or Aberdeen The tercentenary ami
versary was celebrated with great enthu-
siasm in 1884, when new and notable de-
partures were inaugurated.
It's influence Far-Reaching.
The influence of the institution upon
the learning and culture of the city has
been notable. 1t has attracted students
and scholars who have formed a coterie
distinguished for learning and have Great