SIR ROBERT HORNE IN MERRY MOOD.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17742, 19 April 1923, Page 6

SIR ROBERT HORNE IN MERRY MOOD.

* • IFBOM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, March 8. The ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir It. Home), Lord Rector of Aberdeen University, as principal guest, in Glasgow, of Aberdeen University graduates in the course of his speech said: No one is more amazed than myself at the various responsibilities I have been called upon to undertake. When I first joined the Government I felt like a deubtante with fluttering heart entering upon her first season. When I went to the Exchequer I had innumerable suitors, but 1 very soon found they were all after my money. Now I am a widow without a dowry 1 Not being prepared to make a formal speech I can only remind you of a Scots minister who arrived at his church and had forgotten his sermon. He told the congregation that being without his sermon he would only be able to say what the Lord put into his mouth, but he would have something much better to say in the evening. (Laughter.) I am a proud defender of Aberdeen, and during my visit to America I did my best for the granite city. I told an American enquirer how round Aberdeen there were distilleries which produced the best whisky in Scotland, and ' though the people were very fond of it. yet they were so magnanimous that'they exported large quantities to countries whose people were prohibited from [drinking it. (Laughter.) I told him

that although the winter nights were long and dark, there was no need tor artificial illumination because the people could rely on the Aurora Borealis. He appeared a little dejected, and asked if we had anything as high as the tower of the Metropolitan Insurance Company. I replied: 'No, but we have nothing so low as the Bowery.' (Laughter.) When the same Metropolitan tower was pointed out to Lord Bnllour, he was told it was bOOft high. '.Really." replied Lord Balfour. He was told it has 46 flights, and answered, 'Vo;i don't say so!' Moreover, he was assured it was built of fire-proof material and could not-be burnt down. 'What a pitv,' replied Lord Balfour." (Laughter.)' '

Speaking more seriously, Sir Robert referred to the many changes in University education. In the old days he had to take seven classes* in the arts faculty, and he still regarded them as the seven lamps of architecture in the temple of learning. Nowadays University education was applied more directly to fitting a man for his occupation in life. Both points of view might be exaggerated, but he believed that it did not much matter what one learned so long as it was learned well, ind was worth learning. The great was the development of the intellect. Tt was a mistake to drive into a narrow groove—the great thing was to give the broadest possible education.