按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and small jests； he will give you the best of himself； like one
interested in life and man's chief end。 A Scotchman is vain；
interested in himself and others； eager for sympathy； setting forth
his thoughts and experience in the best light。 The egoism of the
Englishman is self…contained。 He does not seek to proselytise。 He
takes no interest in Scotland or the Scotch； and； what is the
unkindest cut of all； he does not care to justify his indifference。
Give him the wages of going on and being an Englishman； that is all
he asks； and in the meantime； while you continue to associate； he
would rather not be reminded of your baser origin。 Compared with
the grand； tree…like self…sufficiency of his demeanour； the vanity
and curiosity of the Scot seem uneasy； vulgar； and immodest。 That
you should continually try to establish human and serious
relations； that you should actually feel an interest in John Bull；
and desire and invite a return of interest from him； may argue
something more awake and lively in your mind； but it still puts you
in the attitude of a suitor and a poor relation。 Thus even the
lowest class of the educated English towers over a Scotchman by the
head and shoulders。
Different indeed is the atmosphere in which Scotch and English
youth begin to look about them； come to themselves in life； and
gather up those first apprehensions which are the material of
future thought and； to a great extent； the rule of future conduct。
I have been to school in both countries； and I found； in the boys
of the North； something at once rougher and more tender； at once
more reserve and more expansion； a greater habitual distance
chequered by glimpses of a nearer intimacy； and on the whole wider
extremes of temperament and sensibility。 The boy of the South
seems more wholesome； but less thoughtful； he gives himself to
games as to a business； striving to excel； but is not readily
transported by imagination； the type remains with me as cleaner in
mind and body； more active； fonder of eating； endowed with a lesser
and a less romantic sense of life and of the future； and more
immersed in present circumstances。 And certainly； for one thing；
English boys are younger for their age。 Sabbath observance makes a
series of grim； and perhaps serviceable； pauses in the tenor of
Scotch boyhood … days of great stillness and solitude for the
rebellious mind； when in the dearth of books and play； and in the
intervals of studying the Shorter Catechism； the intellect and
senses prey upon and test each other。 The typical English Sunday；
with the huge midday dinner and the plethoric afternoon； leads
perhaps to different results。 About the very cradle of the Scot
there goes a hum of metaphysical divinity； and the whole of two
divergent systems is summed up； not merely speciously； in the two
first questions of the rival catechisms； the English tritely
inquiring； 〃What is your name？〃 the Scottish striking at the very
roots of life with； 〃What is the chief end of man？〃 and answering
nobly； if obscurely； 〃To glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever。〃 I
do not wish to make an idol of the Shorter Catechism； but the fact
of such a question being asked opens to us Scotch a great field of
speculation； and the fact that it is asked of all of us； from the
peer to the ploughboy； binds us more nearly together。 No
Englishman of Byron's age； character； and history would have had
patience for long theological discussions on the way to fight for
Greece； but the daft Gordon blood and the Aberdonian school…days
kept their influence to the end。 We have spoken of the material
conditions； nor need much more be said of these： of the land lying
everywhere more exposed； of the wind always louder and bleaker； of
the black； roaring winters； of the gloom of high…lying； old stone
cities； imminent on the windy seaboard； compared with the level
streets； the warm colouring of the brick； the domestic quaintness
of the architecture； among which English children begin to grow up
and come to themselves in life。 As the stage of the University
approaches； the contrast becomes more express。 The English lad
goes to Oxford or Cambridge； there； in an ideal world of gardens；
to lead a semi…scenic life； costumed； disciplined and drilled by
proctors。 Nor is this to be regarded merely as a stage of
education； it is a piece of privilege besides； and a step that
separates him further from the bulk of his compatriots。 At an
earlier age the Scottish lad begins his greatly different
experience of crowded class…rooms； of a gaunt quadrangle； of a bell
hourly booming over the traffic of the city to recall him from the
public…house where he has been lunching； or the streets where he
has been wandering fancy…free。 His college life has little of
restraint； and nothing of necessary gentility。 He will find no
quiet clique of the exclusive； studious and cultured； no rotten
borough of the arts。 All classes rub shoulders on the greasy
benches。 The raffish young gentleman in gloves must measure his
scholarship with the plain； clownish laddie from the parish school。
They separate； at the session's end； one to smoke cigars about a
watering…place； the other to resume the labours of the field beside
his peasant family。 The first muster of a college class in
Scotland is a scene of curious and painful interest； so many lads；
fresh from the heather； hang round the stove in cloddish
embarrassment； ruffled by the presence of their smarter comrades；
and afraid of the sound of their own rustic voices。 It was in
these early days； I think； that Professor Blackie won the affection
of his pupils； putting these uncouth； umbrageous students at their
ease with ready human geniality。 Thus； at least； we have a healthy
democratic atmosphere to breathe in while at work； even when there
is no cordiality there is always a juxtaposition of the different
classes； and in the competition of study the intellectual power of
each is plainly demonstrated to the other。 Our tasks ended； we of
the North go forth as freemen into the humming； lamplit city。 At
five o'clock you may see the last of us hiving from the college
gates； in the glare of the shop windows； under the green glimmer of
the winter sunset。 The frost tingles in our blood； no proctor lies
in wait to intercept us； till the bell sounds again； we are the
masters of the world； and some portion of our lives is always
Saturday； LA TREVE DE DIEU。
Nor must we omit the sense of the nature of his country and his
country's history gradually growing in the child's mind from story
and from observation。 A Scottish child hears much of shipwreck；
outlying iron skerries； pitiless breakers； and great sea…lights；
much of heathery mountains； wild clans； and hunted Covenanters。
Breaths come to him in song of the distant Cheviots and the ring of
foraying hoofs。 He glor