lay morals-第18章

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ly　　equally　well　to　session　1870…1。　　He　shows　us　the　DIVINITY　of　　the　period　…　tall；　pale；　and　slender　…　his　collar　greasy；　and　　his　coat　bare　about　the　seams　…　'his　white　neckcloth　serving　　four　days；　and　regularly　turned　the　third'　…　'the　rim　of　his　　hat　deficient　in　wool'　…　and　'a　weighty　volume　of　theology　　under　his　arm。'　He　was　the　man　to　buy　cheap　'a　snuff…box；　or　　a　dozen　of　pencils；　or　a　six…bladed　knife；　or　a　quarter　of　a　　hundred　quills；'　at　any　of　the　public　sale…rooms。　　He　was　　noted　for　cheap　purchases；　and　for　exceeding　the　legal　tender　　in　halfpence。　　He　haunted　'the　darkest　and　remotest　corner　of　　the　Theatre　Gallery。'　　He　was　to　be　seen　issuing　from　'aerial　　lodging…houses。'　　Withal；　says　mine　author；　'there　were　many　　good　points　about　him：　he　paid　his　landlady's　bill；　read　his　　Bible；　went　twice　to　church　on　Sunday；　seldom　swore；　was　not　　often　tipsy；　and　bought　the　LAPSUS　LINGUAE。'

The　MEDICAL；　again；　'wore　a　white　greatcoat；　and　consequently　　talked　loud'　…　（there　is　something　very　delicious　in　that　　CONSEQUENTLY）。　　He　wore　his　hat　on　one　side。　　He　was　active；　　volatile；　and　went　to　the　top　of　Arthur's　Seat　on　the　Sunday　　forenoon。　　He　was　as　quiet　in　a　debating　society　as　he　was　　loud　in　the　streets。　　He　was　reckless　and　imprudent：　　yesterday　he　insisted　on　your　sharing　a　bottle　of　claret　with　　him　（and　claret　was　claret　then；　before　the　cheap…and…nasty　　treaty）；　and　to…morrow　he　asks　you　for　the　loan　of　a　penny　to　　buy　the　last　number　of　the　LAPSUS。

The　student　of　LAW；　again；　was　a　learned　man。　　'He　had　turned　　over　the　leaves　of　Justinian's　INSTITUTES；　and　knew　that　they　　were　written　in　Latin。　　He　was　well　acquainted　with　the　　title…page　of　Blackstone's　COMMENTARIES；　and　ARGAL　（as　the　　gravedigger　in　HAMLET　says）　he　was　not　a　person　to　be　laughed　　at。'　　He　attended　the　Parliament　House　in　the　character　of　a　　critic；　and　could　give　you　stale　sneers　at　all　the　celebrated　　speakers。　　He　was　the　terror　of　essayists　at　the　Speculative　　or　the　Forensic。　　In　social　qualities　he　seems　to　have　stood　　unrivalled。　　Even　in　the　police…office　we　find　him　shining　　with　undiminished　lustre。　　'If　a　CHARLIE　should　find　him　　rather　noisy　at　an　untimely　hour；　and　venture　to　take　him　　into　custody；　he　appears　next　morning　like　a　Daniel　come　to　　judgment。　　He　opens　his　mouth　to　speak；　and　the　divine　　precepts　of　unchanging　justice　and　Scots　law　flow　from　his　　tongue。　　The　magistrate　listens　in　amazement；　and　fines　him　　only　a　couple　of　guineas。'

Such　then　were　our　predecessors　and　their　College　Magazine。　　　Barclay；　Ambrose；　Young　Amos；　and　Fergusson　were　to　them　what　　the　Cafe；　the　Rainbow；　and　Rutherford's　are　to　us。　　An　hour's　　reading　in　these　old　pages　absolutely　confuses　us；　there　is　　so　much　that　is　similar　and　so　much　that　is　different；　the　　follies　and　amusements　are　so　like　our　own；　and　the　manner　of　　frolicking　and　enjoying　are　so　changed；　that　one　pauses　and　　looks　about　him　in　philosophic　judgment。　　The　muddy　　quadrangle　is　thick　with　living　students；　but　in　our　eyes　it　　swarms　also　with　the　phantasmal　white　greatcoats　and　tilted　　hats　of　1824。　　Two　races　meet：　races　alike　and　diverse。　　Two　　performances　are　played　before　our　eyes；　but　the　change　seems　　merely　of　impersonators；　of　scenery；　of　costume。　　Plot　and　　passion　are　the　same。　　It　is　the　fall　of　the　spun　shilling　　whether　seventy…one　or　twenty…four　has　the　best　of　it。

In　a　future　number　we　hope　to　give　a　glance　at　the　　individualities　of　the　present；　and　see　whether　the　cast　　shall　be　head　or　tail　…　whether　we　or　the　readers　of　the　　LAPSUS　stand　higher　in　the　balance。



COLLEGE　PAPERS　CHAPTER　II　…　THE　MODERN　STUDENT　CONSIDERED　GENERALLY



WE　have　now　reached　the　difficult　portion　of　our　task。　　MR。　　TATLER；　for　all　that　we　care；　may　have　been　as　virulent　as　he　　liked　about　the　students　of　a　former；　but　for　the　iron　to　　touch　our　sacred　selves；　for　a　brother　of　the　Guild　to　betray　　its　most　privy　infirmities；　let　such　a　Judas　look　to　himself　　as　he　passes　on　his　way　to　the　Scots　Law　or　the　Diagnostic；　　below　the　solitary　lamp　at　the　corner　of　the　dark　quadrangle。　　　We　confess　that　this　idea　alarms　us。　　We　enter　a　protest。　　We　　bind　ourselves　over　verbally　to　keep　the　peace。　　We　hope；　　moreover；　that　having　thus　made　you　secret　to　our　misgivings；　　you　will　excuse　us　if　we　be　dull；　and　set　that　down　to　　caution　which　you　might　before　have　charged　to　the　account　of　　stupidity。

The　natural　tendency　of　civilisation　is　to　obliterate　those　　distinctions　which　are　the　best　salt　of　life。　　All　the　fine　　old　professional　flavour　in　language　has　evaporated。　　Your　　very　gravedigger　has　forgotten　his　avocation　in　his　　electorship；　and　would　quibble　on　the　Franchise　over　　Ophelia's　grave；　instead　of　more　appropriately　discussing　the　　duration　of　bodies　under　ground。　　From　this　tendency；　from　　this　gradual　attrition　of　life；　in　which　everything　pointed　　and　characteristic　is　being　rubbed　down；　till　the　whole　world　　begins　to　slip　between　our　fingers　in　smooth　　undistinguishable　sands；　from　this；　we　say；　it　follows　that　　we　must　not　attempt　to　join　MR。　TALLER　in　his　simple　division　　of　students　into　LAW；　DIVINITY；　and　MEDICAL。　　Nowadays　the　　Faculties　may　shake　hands　over　their　follies；　and；　like　Mrs。　　Frail　and　Mrs。　Foresight　（in　LOVE　FOR　LOVE）　they　may　stand　in　　the　doors　of　opposite　class…rooms；　crying：　'Sister；　Sister　…　Sister　everyway！'　　A　few　restrictions；　indeed；　remain　to　　influence　the　followers　of　individual　branches　of　study。　　The　　Divinity；　for　example；　must　be　an　avowed　believer；　and　as　　this；　in　the　present　day；　is　unhappily　considered　by　many　as　　a　confession　of　weakness；　he　is　fain　to　choose　one　of　two　　ways　of　gilding　the　distasteful　orthodox　bolus。　　Some　swallow　　it　in　a　thin　jelly　of　metaphysics；　for　it　is　even　a　credit　to　　believe　in　God　on　the　evidence　of　some　crack…jaw　philosopher；　　although　it　is　a　decided　slur　to　believe　in　Him　on　His　own　　authority。　　Others　again　（and　this　we　think　the　worst　　method）；　finding　German　grammar　a　somewhat　dry　morsel；　run　　their　own　little　heresy　as　a　proof　of　independence；　and　deny　　one　of　the　cardinal　doctrines　that　they　may　hold　the　others　　without　being　laughed　at。

Besides；　however；　such　influences　as　these；　there　is　little　　more　distinction　between　the　faculties　than　the　traditionary　　ideal；　handed　down　through　a　long　sequence　of　students；　and　　getting　rounder　and　more　featureless　at　each　successive　　session。　　The　plague　of　uniformity　has　descended　on　the　　College。　　Students　（and　indeed　all　sorts　and　conditions　of　　men）　now　require　their　faculty　and　character　hung　round　their　　neck　on　a　placard；　like　the　scenes　in　Shakespeare's　theatre。　　　And　in　the　midst　of　all　this　weary　sameness；　not　the　least　　common　feature　is　the　gravity　of　every　face。　　No　more　does　　the　merry　medical　run　eagerly　in　the　clear　winter　morning　up　　the　rugged　sides　of　Arthur's　Seat；　and　hear　the　church　bells　　begin　and　thicken　and　die　away　below　him　among　the　gathered　　smoke　of　the　city。　　He　will　not　break　Sunday　to　so　little　　purpose。　　He　no　longer　finds　pleasure　in　the　mere　output　of　　his　surplus　energy。　　He　husbands　his　strength；　and　lays　out　　walks；　and　reading；　and　amusement　with　deep　consideration；　so　　that　he　may　get　as　much　work　and　pleasure　out　of　his　body　as　　he　can；　and　waste　none　of　his　energy　on　mere　impulse；　or　such　　flat　enjoyment　as　an　excursion　in　the　country。

See　the　quadrangle　in　the　interregnum　of　classes；　in　those　　two　or　three　minutes　when　it　is　full　of　passing　students；　and　　we　think　you　will　admit　that；　if　we　have　not　made　it　'an　　habitation　of　dragons；'　we　have　at　least　transformed　it　into　　'a　court　for　owls。'　　Solemnity　broods　heavily　over　the　　enclosure；　and　wherever　you　seek　it；　you　will　find　a　dearth　　of　merriment；　an　absence　of　real　youthful　enjoyment。　　You　　might　as　well　try


'To　move　wild　laughter　in　the　throat　of　death'


as　to　excite　any　healthy　stir　among　the　bulk　of　this　staid　　company。

The　studious　congregate　about　the　doors　of　the　different　　classes；　debating　the　matter　of　the　lecture；　or　comparing　　note…books。　　A　reserved　rivalry　sunders　them。　　Here　are　some　　deep　in　Greek　particles：　there；　others　are　already　　inhabitants　of　that　land


'Where　entity　and　quiddity；　'Like　ghosts　of　defunct　bodies　fly　…　Where　Truth　in　person　does　appear　Like　words　congealed　in　northern　air。'


But　none　of　them　seem　to　find　any　relish　for　their　studies　…　　no　pedantic　love　of　this　subject　or　that　lights　up　their　eyes　　…　science　and　learning　are　only　means　for　a　livelihood；　which　　they　have　considerately　embraced　and　which　they　solemnly　　pursue。　　'Labour's　pale　priests；'　their　lips　seem　incapable　　of　laughter；　except　in　the　way　of　polite　recognition　of　　professorial　wit。　　The　stains　of　ink　are　chronic　on　their　　meagre　fingers。　　They　walk　like　Saul　among　the　asses。

The　dandies　are　not　less　subdued。　　In　1824　there　was　a　noisy　　dapper　dandyism　abroad。　　Vulgar；　as　we　should　now　think；　but　　yet　genial　…　a　matter　of　white　greatcoats　and　loud　voices　…　　strangely　different　from　the　stately　frippery　that　is　rife　at　　present。　　These　men　are　out　of　their　element　in　the　　quadrangle。　　Even　the　small　remains　of　boisterous　humour；　　which　still　clings　to　any　collection　of　young　men；　jars　　painfully　on　their　morbid　sensibilities；　and　they　beat　a　　hasty　retreat　to　resume　their　perfunctory　march　along　Princes　　Street。　　Flirtation　is　to　them　a　great　social　duty；　a　painful　　obligation；　which　they　perform　on　every　occasion　in　the　same　　chill　official　manner；　and　with　the　same　commonplace　　advances；　the　same　dogged　observance　of　traditional　　behaviour。　　The　shape　of　their　raiment　is　a　burden　almost　　greater　than　they　can　bear；　and　they　halt　in　their　walk　to　　preserve　the　due　adjustment　of　their　trouser…knees；　till　one　　would　fancy　he　had　mixed　in　a　procession　of　Jacobs。　　We　　speak；　of　course；　for　ourselves；　but　we　would　as　soon　　associate　with　a　herd　of　sprightly　apes　as　with　these　gloomy　　modern　beaux。　　Alas；　that　our　Mirabels；　our　Valentines；　even　　our　Brummels；　should　have　left　their　mantles　upon　nothing　　more　amusing！

Nor　are　the　fast　men　less　constrained。　　Solemnity；　even　in　　dissipation；　is　the　order　of　the　day；　and　they　go　to　the　　devil　with　a　perverse　seriousness；　a　systematic　rationalism　　of　wickedness　that　would　have　surprised　the　simpler　sinners　　of　old。　　Some　of　these　men　whom　we　see　gravely　conversing　on　　the　steps　have　but　a　slender　acquaintance　with　each　other。　　　Their　intercourse　consists　principally　of　mutual　bulletins　of　　depravity；　and；　week　after　week；　as　they　meet　they　reckon　up　　their　items　of　transgression；　and　give　an　abstract　of　their　　downward　progress　for　approval　and　encouragement。　　These　folk　　form　a　freemasonry　of　their　own。　　An　oath　is　the　shibboleth　　of　their　sinister　fellowship。　　Once　they　hear　a　man　swear；　it　　is　wonderful　how　their　tongues　loosen　and　their　bashful　　spirits　take　enlargement；　under　the　consciousness　of　　brotherhood。　　There　is　no　folly；　no　pardoning　warmth　of　　temper　about　them；　they　are　as　steady…going　and　systematic　in　　their　own　way　as　the　studious　in　theirs。

Not　that　we　are　without　merry　men。　　No。　　We　shall　not　be　　ungrateful　to　those；　whose　grimaces；　whose　ironical　laughter；　　whose　active　feet　in　the　'College　Anthem'　have　beguiled　so　　many　weary　hours　and　added　a