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Breaths come to him in song of the distant Cheviots and the ring of
foraying hoofs。 He glories in his hard…fisted forefathers； of the
iron girdle and the handful of oat…meal； who rode so swiftly and
lived so sparely on their raids。 Poverty； ill…luck； enterprise；
and constant resolution are the fibres of the legend of his
country's history。 The heroes and kings of Scotland have been
tragically fated； the most marking incidents in Scottish history …
Flodden； Darien； or the Forty…five were still either failures or
defeats； and the fall of Wallace and the repeated reverses of the
Bruce combine with the very smallness of the country to teach
rather a moral than a material criterion for life。 Britain is
altogether small； the mere taproot of her extended empire：
Scotland； again； which alone the Scottish boy adopts in his
imagination； is but a little part of that； and avowedly cold；
sterile and unpopulous。 It is not so for nothing。 I once seemed
to have perceived in an American boy a greater readiness of
sympathy for lands that are great； and rich； and growing； like his
own。 It proved to be quite otherwise： a mere dumb piece of boyish
romance； that I had lacked penetration to divine。 But the error
serves the purpose of my argument； for I am sure； at least； that
the heart of young Scotland will be always touched more nearly by
paucity of number and Spartan poverty of life。
So we may argue； and yet the difference is not explained。 That
Shorter Catechism which I took as being so typical of Scotland； was
yet composed in the city of Westminster。 The division of races is
more sharply marked within the borders of Scotland itself than
between the countries。 Galloway and Buchan； Lothian and Lochaber；
are like foreign parts； yet you may choose a man from any of them；
and； ten to one； he shall prove to have the headmark of a Scot。 A
century and a half ago the Highlander wore a different costume；
spoke a different language； worshipped in another church； held
different morals； and obeyed a different social constitution from
his fellow…countrymen either of the south or north。 Even the
English； it is recorded； did not loathe the Highlander and the
Highland costume as they were loathed by the remainder of the
Scotch。 Yet the Highlander felt himself a Scot。 He would
willingly raid into the Scotch lowlands； but his courage failed him
at the border； and he regarded England as a perilous； unhomely
land。 When the Black Watch； after years of foreign service；
returned to Scotland； veterans leaped out and kissed the earth at
Port Patrick。 They had been in Ireland； stationed among men of
their own race and language； where they were well liked and treated
with affection； but it was the soil of Galloway that they kissed at
the extreme end of the hostile lowlands； among a people who did not
understand their speech； and who had hated； harried； and hanged
them since the dawn of history。 Last； and perhaps most curious；
the sons of chieftains were often educated on the continent of
Europe。 They went abroad speaking Gaelic； they returned speaking；
not English； but the broad dialect of Scotland。 Now； what idea had
they in their minds when they thus； in thought； identified
themselves with their ancestral enemies？ What was the sense in
which they were Scotch and not English； or Scotch and not Irish？
Can a bare name be thus influential on the minds and affections of
men； and a political aggregation blind them to the nature of facts？
The story of the Austrian Empire would seem to answer； NO； the far
more galling business of Ireland clenches the negative from nearer
home。 Is it common education； common morals； a common language or
a common faith； that join men into nations？ There were practically
none of these in the case we are considering。
The fact remains： in spite of the difference of blood and language；
the Lowlander feels himself the sentimental countryman of the
Highlander。 When they meet abroad； they fall upon each other's
necks in spirit； even at home there is a kind of clannish intimacy
in their talk。 But from his compatriot in the south the Lowlander
stands consciously apart。 He has had a different training； he
obeys different laws； he makes his will in other terms； is
otherwise divorced and married； his eyes are not at home in an
English landscape or with English houses； his ear continues to
remark the English speech； and even though his tongue acquire the
Southern knack； he will still have a strong Scotch accent of the
mind。
CHAPTER II。 SOME COLLEGE MEMORIES （2）
I AM asked to write something （it is not specifically stated what）
to the profit and glory of my ALMA MATER； and the fact is I seem to
be in very nearly the same case with those who addressed me； for
while I am willing enough to write something； I know not what to
write。 Only one point I see； that if I am to write at all； it
should be of the University itself and my own days under its
shadow； of the things that are still the same and of those that are
already changed： such talk； in short； as would pass naturally
between a student of to…day and one of yesterday； supposing them to
meet and grow confidential。
The generations pass away swiftly enough on the high seas of life；
more swiftly still in the little bubbling back…water of the
quadrangle； so that we see there； on a scale startlingly
diminished； the flight of time and the succession of men。 I looked
for my name the other day in last year's case…book of the
Speculative。 Naturally enough I looked for it near the end； it was
not there； nor yet in the next column； so that I began to think it
had been dropped at press； and when at last I found it； mounted on
the shoulders of so many successors； and looking in that posture
like the name of a man of ninety； I was conscious of some of the
dignity of years。 This kind of dignity of temporal precession is
likely； with prolonged life； to become more familiar； possibly less
welcome； but I felt it strongly then； it is strongly on me now； and
I am the more emboldened to speak with my successors in the tone of
a parent and a praiser of things past。
For； indeed； that which they attend is but a fallen University； it
has doubtless some remains of good； for human institutions decline
by gradual stages； but decline； in spite of all seeming
embellishments； it does； and what is perhaps more singular； began
to do so when I ceased to be a student。 Thus； by an odd chance； I
had the very last of the very best of ALMA MATER； the same thing； I
hear （which makes it the more strange）； had previously happened to
my father； and if they are good and do not die； something not at
all unsimilar will be found in time to have befallen my successors
of to…day。 Of the specific points of change； of advantage in the
past； of shortcoming in the present； I mu