IL] UNIVERSITIES : ACTUAL AND IDEAL. 37 



tion of the wealthy and professional classes, thus levied 

 on the resources of the community, is not, after all, a 

 little heavy? And, still further, I am tempted to 

 inquire what has become of the indigent scholars, the 

 sons of the masses of the people whose daily labour 

 just suffices to meet their daily wants, for whose 

 benefit these rich foundations were largely, if not 

 mainly, instituted ? It seems as if Pharaoh's dream 

 had been rigorously carried out, and that even the fat 

 scholar has eaten the lean one. And when I turn 

 from this picture to the no less real vision of many a 

 brave and frugal Scotch boy, spending his summer in 

 hard manual labour, that he may have the privilege 

 of wending his way in autumn to this University, with 

 a bag of oatmeal, ten pounds in his pocket, and his 

 own stout heart to depend upon through the northern 

 winter ; not bent on seeking 



" The bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth," 



but determined to wring knowledge from the hard 

 hands of penury ; when I see him win through all such 

 outward obstacles to positions of wide usefulness and 

 well-earned fame ; I cannot but think that, in essence, 

 Aberdeen has departed but little from the primitive 

 intention of the founders of Universities, and that the 

 spirit of reform has so much to do on the other side 

 of the Border, that it may be long before he has leisure 

 to look this way. 



As compared with other actual Universities, then, 

 Aberdeen, may, perhaps, be well satisfied with itself. 

 But do not think me an impracticable dreamer, if I 



