i8 PETER GUTHRIE TAIT 



himself as a "lecturing machine" appointed by the University to instruct 

 the youth of our country in the "common sense view of the universe we 

 live in." Students were invited to send in their difficulties in writing 

 before the lecture ; but conditions were not favourable for personal inter- 

 course between teacher and pupil. 



Tait let nothing interfere with his official duties towards his class, 

 declining on principle to make mention of anything but what had a direct 

 connection with University regulations or College work. Once an enthusiastic 

 secretary approached him with the request that he would announce a meet- 

 ing of the highly important society represented by the petitioner. Tait 

 opened his lecture with the remark that in this class room they met to 

 discuss Natural Philosophy and that he made it a rule to speak only of 

 what concerned the work of the class. A few mornings later there 

 appeared in the public prints the announcement of the birth of his youngest 

 son. As Tait appeared on the platform behind the lecture table he was 

 greeted with a burst of applause, which lasted several minutes. In grim 

 silence he waited till the noise subsided ; then, with a quizzical glance 

 round the full benches, he remarked " Gentlemen, I said the other day 

 that I make it a rule to take notice here only of what affects directly 

 the work of the class." This pertinent sally was received with laughter 

 and a ringing cheer, and then the students settled down to listen attentively 

 to the lecture of the day. 



To the student who passed through the general class of Natural 

 Philosophy on the way to the ordinary degree Tait was the superb lecturer 

 and nothing more. Those who entered the optional laboratory course or 

 who took the Advanced Class with a view to honours were better able to 

 appreciate his varied gifts ; but a full revelation of the great personality 

 came only to the privileged few who acted as his assistants, or who worked 

 with him or for him in the laboratory. The sterling honesty of the man 

 shone through all he did. As Sir Patrick Heron Watson once said, the 

 charm of Tait was his naturalness and he had known Tait from their 

 boyhood's days. Sincerity was to him the touchstone of a man's character. 

 Strong in his likes he was also strong in his dislikes. With true chivalry 

 he fought for the claims of his friends if these were challenged by others. 

 It was this indeed which led him into controversy. Thus arose the 

 controversies with Tyndall concerning the history of the modern theory of 

 heat and Forbes' glacier work, and the discussion with Clausius in reference 



