CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 13 



of William Ramsay connect themselves more with the playtime 

 than the school. In the impressions of him that remain from 

 those playhours the figure of his mother seems peculiarly present. 

 He was an only child and his companions were soon the friends 

 of his mother also. I think I see her on the steps of their house, 

 with shrubbery on either hand. I see the handsome figure with 

 a singularly smiling restfulness of countenance. Her son had a 

 great look of her. At the same time he was about equally like 

 his father whom we boys knew and who had been a school friend 

 of my father's. Mr. Ramsay I can also discern with the mind's 

 eye. He comes before me as a very attractive genial personality, 

 with a kindly smile always ready to light up his pleasant features. 

 I have dwelt thus on his father and mother because on thinking 

 over these early impressions I have come to the conclusion that 

 Ramsay's after-life was the outcome, to a singular degree, of his 

 parents' mentality and of their influence." 



With the exception of his Ramsay cousins in London 

 (children of Sir Andrew), who were too far away for 

 frequent meetings, and his mother's only nephew 

 Archibald Jolly, son of Rev. Dr. Jolly, who was several 

 years the elder, Ramsay was the only young member 

 of his family circle. He managed however to have a 

 good many of the amusements of youth, not always 

 unconnected with mischief. He used to describe with 

 great glee the beginning of his friendship with the 

 Purdie-Dickson family, a solemn interview with the 

 learned professor on the subject of a broken study 

 window and a catapult which was confiscated on the 

 spot. As he never heard of it being used by its new 

 owner, he always felt this a great waste. There was 

 also a tale of a small brass cannon, which, though 



