OUR SCOTCH LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1734, 14 February 1885, Page 23

OUR SCOTCH LETTER.

(fkom ooe own cobrespondent.) Edinbukgh December 11. OVKB-PjoESSUBK IN SCHOOLS. The stir created more or less throughout the Kingdom by Dr Crichton-Brown's now celebrated report on the above subject has naturally been specially great in a place like Edinburgh, where education is looked upon as the principal thing. Among others who have directed attention here to the subjpet is Dr Koiller, a prominent practitioner, and an expresident of the Royal Collpgo of Physiciaus. He delivered the concluding lecture of the course of Morison lectures o 1 "The Nervous Diseases of Women," and devoted it to this topic of educational over-pressure. He affirmed that " the highly forced education of our time was often at the very root of the first breakingdown of the health of young girls, by not oaly inducing various forms and degrees of early neurosis, hnf by stamping on their developing natures features of diminishing strength." Expressing it as his belief that the bad effects of competitive over-strain were both more frequent and more severe in the case of gida than in fchat of boys, ha added ifc as his opinion that tho proscnt high pressure* s.yts fsjm of educating tLa young, and especially ia the case of girls, was not only an ignorant; delusion, butau ipnoranfcly-devised "anare," Dr Koillor alpo pretested against "the over-burdnDisjor, especially of female pupils, by almnat unlimited home tanks," d9claiiug it to ho "a most unreasonable, and indeed crutj, if not m-mian-able, liberty taken with young haads nnd growing bodies "; and he added that it " ought to be rutlilaesly opposed, and indeed legally checkod, as an insanitary act of injustice to pupils and parents," Dr Keiller's observations were heartily endorsed, in a letter to the Scotsman, by another well - known Edinburgh medical man, Dr Carmichael. This gentleman says that he thinks that a young woman under the age of 18 " cau nnvor engage in hs»rd study with impunity." Ha aaya that while girls are not co capable of bard study, physically, as boys, thsy work far harder at their studies, so that evil rabults are much more numerous in regard to them. These results, ho says, "are not immediate, but rotrcote," and consequently do not mauifest themselves while the girla are at school, but in after life, and especially when they are subjected to the Btrain of maternal duties. Probably these expressions of opinion will commend themselves to parents and teachers in your community also as deserving attention and inquiry. SCOTTISH GKOGBArHIOAL SOCIETY, The floating of this Sociely has proved a success beyond the most sanguine anticipation?, the membership already approaching 800, and including influeafcial men in all ranks of life from dukes downwards. The headquarters of tho Socioty are in Edinburgh, but branches have also been formed in Glasgow and Dundee. Mr H. M. Stanley, the famous African explorer, was appropriately engaged (o driver the inaugural addroes on December o. Lord Balfour, of Burleigh,presided, and theaudiauce almost filled the Muaic Hall. Mr Stanley n;ave an interesting addrea3 on African exploration, and especially on the great region of the Cougo, whose magnitude, physical at tractious, and natural resources he depicted in glowing colours. He said the British Government bad in n large measure lost its opportunity by aot fcakisg bis advice eocw monxiiti ago,

The claims of the Portuguese he stigmatised as- " monstrous." Before leaving Edinburgh Mi' Stanley delivered another interestipg address in opening the Society's rooms in Princes r.treefe, as well as a lecture under other auspices. There seems to be every likelihood that ths Society will really do good work, aud will not be a m6re literary and Bocial club. As Mr Stanley snowed in bis first address, work is wanted in geographical matters, and proves amply remunerative. THE CLAIMANT IN EDINBUBGH. That tiresome individual, the Tichborne Claimant, appeared on the boards of a music hall in Edinburgh the other day, and delivered an address to a crowded and enthusiastic audience. He was in evening dress, and is stated to have looked "remarkably well." He said that his object in appearing in public was to endervour to obtain the, support of hia fellow countrymen in " Great Britain and Scotland" towards bringing about the repeal of an Act passed while he was in prison, and which, he affirmed, " left him the only man in Great Britain that day that was treated as an outlaw." He urged that as the Government had spent a very large sum of money in trying to prove that he was Arthur Orton, it was only right that the public should ask tbat their money be spent in proving his innocence. This not very logical argument was ap--plauded by his not over-intelligent audience, who 39 enthusiasm reached a high pitch when the orator proceeded to &<k them to aid him in getting tho whole nation to rise, as they would do before he had done with them, and demand a Royal Commission of inquiry Having reached this climax, the Claimant retired amid loud cheers and cries of " Encore 1" If we are to ba dosed with Tichborne harangues in addition to the crofter and franchise nuisance, life in this land of twaddle will be scarcely endurablo. A HAIBUBESSING COMPETITION. What was described in the high-flown language dear to barbers as being a " bairdressing" exposition and competition," came off on November 27 in the Odd Fellows' Hall in this city, undor the auspices of the Edinburgh Hairdressers' Academy. As the competitors provided living lady models, there was a large attendance, although the prices for admission ranged from Is to 3s 6d. Thore wero throe competitions, the last boiug opop to all Scotland. Ifc brought out 10 competitors, who ware allowed 40 minutes in which to produce a " coiffure fantasie with ornaments." Lady roadors may bo interested to know that fcho Scotsman's representative reported tbat " the designs in this instance were particularly neat and tasteful, and in moat cases they reflected the present fashion of wearing the hair combed upwards from behind." The first and second prizes, both gold medals, were won respectively by Edinburgh and Glasgow artistes, the adjudications throughout being made by a jury of five hairdressers. Mons. I Oliver Rollarjd.a well known Landon member of the craft, then delivered a lecture on various matters connected with the trade. This first attempt of the kind in Edinburgh proved so successful t.hat it very likely will be repeated. When Dunedin is languishing for a novelty it might try this, as being at least aa good as a baby show, and less likely 1;o lead to unpleasant consequences. OBITUABY BECOBD. Sir John Marjoribanks, Bart , of Lees, died suddenly on November 18, aged 54 years, at Netherby, near Longtown, while on a visit to Sir Frederick Graham. He was best known as an ardent sportamau, and be was cut down by heart disease whilo out with a shooting party. His remains were interred in the family vault in the old abbey at Coldstream, celebrated in connection with the battle of Flodden Field, It was 51 years since the vault was last opened for an interment. The late baronet, though married, had no children, and the title and estates consequently pass to his brother Wil T liam, who is 52 years of age. Sir Alexander Grant, Bart., Principal of Edinburgh University, died of apoplexy on November 29, after about 38 hours' illness; He was born in 1826, and was educated at Harrow and Oxford. At the University >he made himself a name a« a successful private tutor, able public examiner, and editor of Aristotlo'a " Ethics," with English notes, this* being still regarded as a standard work. In 1859 he went lo India, where he successively held several of the most important posts in connection with education in Madras and Bombay In 18(58 he was elected principal of Edinburgh Uniyeraty by a majority of one over tho lato Sir James Simpson. This year he published a history of the University in two volumes, and the labour conn^cLod with this and the terontonary celebrations told heavily upon his strength. Nevertheless no nue miHpected that the end was so near. He is survived by his widow, a daughter of Profassor Forrier, of St. Andrew's, and three son&, the eldest of whom is a distinguished student afc Oxford. Sir Alexander's funeral took phea on December 5, and was attended by the Lord Provost, magistrates, '■■»'! Council, tbs rT.ii.y.'-mf.y authorities, ami a very ;a,rgr> l.sMru.i. of .he Bfcudents, besides a great many ot" ti.o Icaihay, citizens and voprasentativofi uf the ofch^r Scottish universities. There was a chcrj.J ssrvico in St. Mary's Cat'igdral, vheue? V^e bedy was conveyed fco the Poiii (J-imaTp; "\ The funeral procession w.ic n vory largo <« % and w^B witnessed by irnmciwf: crowds nl" spectators, was alao a Lvr,>c c ri i?grc>g v tion in St, Giles' Cathedral on Sunday foifnoon, when the em-mon and eevvice had reference to the Principal's doatli. The students and learned bodies in the city were very largely represented. Sir Lyon Playfair is most commonly spoken of as Sir Alexander Grant's successor in the Principalship, though tho names of Principal Tulloch, Mr Matthew Arnold, and Professor Huxley have also baon mentioned. GENERAIi NEW:". At the November meetings of the CommisBionß of tho General Assemblies, the moderators for next year wero privately nominated, as usual. In the Established Church- the choice fall upon the Rev. Dr Mitchell, Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the University of St. Andrew's; and in the Free Church on the Rev. Dr David. Brown, principal of the Freo Church College, Aberdeen. An effort is being made to commemorate the, approaching sixth centenary of King Alexander 111 of Scotland, by erecting a memorial stone on the spot between Burntisland and Kinghorn where he was killed, Scotchmen everywhere are to be invited to contribute towards tho momorial fund. The total abstainers in Paisley havo just taken a plebiscite to ascertain the feeling of the town on the subject of ioeal option. As the result of the issue of schedules to nearly 12,000 househohieu*, 4919 papers were returned, sh >wing that 7036 persons were favourable, 9liß9 l iB unfavourable, and 682 neutral. Several Scut iah wills have rocently been provnd for considerable amounts — viz. : That of Sir Archibald Grant, Bart , of Monymusk, at £117.627; that of Mr W. H. Haig, of Browufceld, npar Edinburgh, at £114,000 ; and that of Sir Charles John Forbes, Bart., of Newe and Edinslassio. Abordeenshiro, i\\ ; £39,003.