1856. A WONDERFUL CUSHION. 417 



to a fur boa, but otherwise cultivate a severe simplicity in my 

 attire, eschewing all tartan, though not, you may suppose, with - 

 out a sigh." 



One more jeu d' esprit before proceeding to notice the labours 

 of the new sphere. In the spring of 1855, Dr. Wilson formed 

 the centre of a merry group, seated one bright and sunny day 

 on the grassy banks of the Doune, beside the old castle, about 

 nine miles from the Bridge of Allan. While one of the young 

 ladies Miss Black, now Mrs. Henry Lees arranged an im- 

 promptu cushion, to add to his comfort, she volunteered the 

 promise, that should he ever be a Professor, she would work a 

 cushion for his Chair. The promise, lightly made, with little 

 expectation of its being claimed, was faithfully fulfilled, and 

 her beautiful cushion, on which flowers were worked in beads, 

 was an object of much pride, and a source of much pleasure to 

 its recipient, the donor being one whose friendship he highly 

 valued. The following verses were sent in acknowledgment : 



THE CHAIR OF TECHNOLOGY AND ITS CUSHION. 



THE Queen of England in her might, 



She made a wondrous Chair ; 

 She beckoned to a Scottish wight, 



And said, " Ho ! sit thou there !" 



The Scottish wight, he bowed his head, 



And stammered an apology ; 

 " Nay ! sit thou there !" the Queen she said, 



" In my Chair of Technology." 



" To all my subjects, now I say, 



I make thee a professor ; 

 Of this great Chair, by night and day, 



I make thee sole possessor." 



It was a strange, unheard-of Chair, 



And every part was new ; 

 The wood that made it was so rare, 



No one knew where it grew. 



All through the land the people went, 



And stopping at each college, " Hey !" 

 They cried, " Oh ! tell us what is meant 



By this Chair of Technology." 

 The base was broad, the back was long ; 



It was an ample Chair ; 

 The arms were wide, and very strong, 



But it was very bare. 

 2 D 



