New-York tribune., 1911-09-28
HART AND M'CoSH
The Philosopher Relation to Sir Rob-
ert's Great Work in China.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In Sloane's Life OF James McCosh
we find an interesting sketch OF the inter
relation Of the philosopher and the SUI
dent. and their opinions OF each othsr.
Professor McCosh was proud OF the pupIi
who. after studying under him IN Belfast'
became eminent in China. quoting from
Sloane we are told that:
'sMcCosh recognized Sir Robert Hart
emlnence. guided his studies and pointed
out his career by choosing him as the can
didate OF Queens College 20 compete ar
an examination for a position In the con-
sular service Of Great Britain IN CHINA
open 20 all the colleges OF the three kins
doms Hart stood first, received the ap-
pointment. went to China, won the conh-
dence Of the Chinese by his integrity ana
ability. and is now 0s95 the hrst among
all foreigners in the Emperor's service. ne
has done much for China IN the instltu-
ton OF reforms and is the mainstay OF MS
countrys relations 20 the empire. Arnohs
his many important enterprises that OF
establishing an institution OF western
learning for the Chinese is not the le@sL
worthy OF mention. The sTatihcauon OIL
DR.. McCosh when. on the graduation OF
his SON from Princeton (the late DR.. An
drew James McCoshJ, Sir Robert Hart
wrote 20 offer the young man a position III
China was very great
7 may add IN this connection that one OF
my school companions under Or. r. D.
Bryce in the Belfast Academy, and aIleI-
ward In Belfast College, John McLeaEs
Brown. followed Hart 10 China, about haIL
a century ago. and became attached 10
Hart In his work, 7 think especially lot
Corea. where he is probably still serving
quite in the spirit and style oi Slr HoDeI'
Hart Sir Robert Hart's tribute 70 Or.
ATcCosh is the following, which illustrates
his style
''I have a very vivid recollection OF Dr.
McCoshs f-st appearance at the queen
College. Belfast, in 1851. Hls lso.-
ures were quite captivating, but dealt Win
very dry subjects, and although l followed
the logic course at sixteen and took meta
ubvsics at seventeen they interested me so
much that for a time my chief anDlIloH
was 10 win the lecturers commendatloh
and head the class I wrote quickly IL
those davs. and so. noting down most OF
what he said. l was able TO reproduce MS
own language at examinations ana III es-
saws and with this ne was always nucn
pleased. He held that mind and universe
being the creation Of the same hand coEre-
spoud-that the one knows and the other
ia known. and that reality corresponds TO
knowledge. This agreed with what con-
seriousness tells everybody, and supplied
firm foundation to build on.
ITO all Of US ne was very KIND "4-lle
somewhat exacting, especially so to the
more earnest students; and he was also
very stern. although reader to help them
out of a difficulty than 10 push them rur-
ther into IT, with the idlers and the mat
tept,ve. He used 10 invite US TO MS break
fast table occasionally, and IN that way
set uu bond Of sympathy between his
classes and himself which did not exist
i'm other departments. lie always
eyinced a very friendly interest In my per-
son and in my work, and on my side /
slwavs cherished the hope Of seeing MIN
araiu. and looked forward with very pleas
ant anticipatous 70 visiting him az Prince
ton when crossing America some time on
NV way to Europe, but the dear old man
Is dead. and the expected meeting VIII not
- -. - ,.I.-,,s5 > G. NJ
princeton. n. J., Sept o, 1911