SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES AND ENGLISH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 82

SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES AND ENGLISH.

I Sir . Conan Doyle,- in a chapter headed "Modern Athenians"' in his book " The Firm, of Gir.dlestone," makes re- ' f erence to ; the difierence between Edinburgh University and English Univers ities. As our own University is modelled J somewhat on the lines of that of Edin- . burgh, his remarks are of interest: — Edinburgh University may call herself with grim jocoseness the " alma mater" of her students, bui if she be a mother T at 'all she, is one of a very heroic and Spartan cast,- who conceals, her maternal "affection with , remarkable success. The only signs of interest which she ever deigns to evince, towards her alumni are upon ,those not infrequent .occasions when guineas- -' are - -to be ' demanded . from them. Then one is surprised to find how carefully the old hen has counted her chickens, and how promptly the demand is conveyed to each one of the 1 thousands ; throughout the empire who, in spite of i neglect, cherish a sneaking for j their old college. There is symbolism s in the very look of her, square and masj siver, .grim and grey, with never a pillar or carving to break the dead monotony of the great stone walls. She is learned, she is practical, and' she is useful. There j is little *'- sentiment „or romance in her composition/ "'however, and in this she does but conform to the instincts of the nation of which ' she is the youngest but i the most flourishing teacher. A lad coming up to an English University finds himself in an enlarged and enlightened public school. If he has passed .through Harrow or Eton .there is no very .abrupt jtransition between the. life ..which he., has Jed in. the- sixths iorm and :that\which; ie finds awaiting' him on . the banks of the Cam . and the Isis. Certain rooms are' found for him which havfc been inhabited by generations of students in the pact, and will be by as many in the future. His religion is cared^ for, and he is expected , to, put in an ap-" pearance at hall and at chapel. He must be within bounds at a fixed time. If he behave indecorously he is liable to be pounced upon and reported by special officials, fod a code of .punishments is hung perpetually over his head. In return for all this his university takes a keen interest in him. She pats him on the back if he succeeds, Prizes and scholarships and fine fat fellowships are thrown plentifully in his way if he will gird up his loins and aspire to them. Therfe is nothing of this in a Scotch University. The young aspirant pays his pound, and finds himself a student. After that he may do absolutely what he will. There are certain classes going on at certain hours, which he may attend if he choose. If not, he may stay away without the slightest remonstrance from the college. As to religion, he may worship the sun, or have a private fetish of his own upon the mantelpiece of his lodgings, for all that the University cares. He may live where he likes, he may keep what houTS he chooses, and he is at liberty to break every commandment in the decalogue as long aa he behaves himself with some approach to decency within the academical precincts. In every way he is absolutely his own master. Examinations are periodically held, at which he may appear or not as he chooses. The University is a great unsympathetic machine, taking in a stream of raw-boned cartilaginous youths at one end, and turning them out at the, other as learned divines, astute lawyers, and -skilful medical men. Of every thousand of the raw material about six hundred emerge at the other side. The remainder are broken in the process. ' Tbe merits and faults of this Scotch 'system are alike evid.ent. Left entirely to his own devices in a far from moral city, many a lad falls at the very startingpoint of his life' 6 race, never to rise again. Many become idlers or take to drink, while others, after wasting time and money which they could ill afford, leave the college with nothing learned save vice. On the other hand, those whose manliness and good sense keep them straight have gone through a training which lasts them for life. They have been tvied, and have not been found wanting. They have learned self-reliance, confidence, and, in a^word, have become men of the world while their confreres in England are still magnified schoolboys.