3 86 



NATURE 



[September 21, 191 1 



lutions, the asperities of reformations, and the para- 

 lysing spoliations — and to-day is not lacking in vitality, 

 vigour, .mil eagerness to fit a university of the olden 

 time to every modern improvement. Formerly it had 

 seen the burning of martyrs in front of its gates or 

 in its vicinity, had endorsed the law on the unfortu- 

 nate witches, and rigidly excluded women even from 

 its quadrangle, on one hand; and, on the other, 

 it had reared or fostered many men of note who 

 spread its fame throughout other lands, or sent its 

 best and wisest to preside over the sister-universities 

 or to teach within their walls. Science, literature, and 

 divinity have been enriched by the labours of its staff 

 throughout this long period, its students have in- 

 creased in number, women have entered its gates on 

 the same footing as men, and its interests have been 

 widened by the union with the college of the enter- 

 prising and prosperous city of Dundee. 



With its long, chequered, and honourable career 

 behind it, and imbued with high purpose for the 

 future, the University held the first function of the 

 celebration on Tuesday afternoon, September 12, in 

 the presentation of his portrait to Mr. Carnegie. This 

 was a gift of the students. Senate, and University 

 Court in recognition of their former rector's munifi- 

 cence to tin- University, for to him it owes, amongst 

 other things, its fun- Carnegie Park, pavilions, 

 library, and gymnasium. The picture represents Dr. 

 Carnegie in his robes as rector. Principal Sir James 

 Donaldson made the presentation on behalf of the 

 subscribers, and Dr. Carnegie made a notable acknow- 

 ledgment. 



In the evening there was a reception by the chan- 

 cellor, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who, with Lady 

 Balfour, graciously received the great concourse of 

 visitors and others in the North Hall at the United 

 College of St. Salvator and St. Leonards. No more 

 brilliant scene could have been imagined. Not even the 

 great array of silver ornaments and statues, of gor- 

 geously arrayed Churchmen of every rank at the cele- 

 bration of the endowment of the young University in 14 13 

 to grant degrees by the papal Bull, could have exceeded 

 the varied and striking array of the representatives 

 of science, of medicine, of arts, divinity, law, and other 

 distinguished nun and women from almost ever) 

 civilised country in lines from New Zealand to Aus- 

 tralia and radiating through the old world and through 

 the new to the old grey city on the Scottish coast. 

 The bright colours and ornamentation of the robes and 

 hoods, the gold chains of office — academic and civil — 

 the brilliant orders and medals, and the still more 

 varied colours and graceful drapery of the ladies, 

 mingled with the sheen of spurs and the full-dress 

 uniforms of military men, both highland and low- 

 land, of representatives of the navy and groups of 

 rivie dignitaries, made a scene never to be forgotten. 

 One thing more only can be alluded to, and it is 

 that the welcome given by Lord and Lady Balfour to 

 every one of the 3500 was of such a kind that from 

 first to last tin- proceedings were nf a most pleasanl 

 and harmonious kind. The band of the Scots Guards 

 at the eastern end of the hall enlivened the proceed- 

 ings, which were further enhanced by the chaste 

 decoration of the interior, from the platform to the 

 opposite end. 



Moreover, a torch-light procession of the students 

 starting from the Carnegie Park, clad in the most 

 varied and fantastic costumes, made a striking and 

 mosl fascinating scene throughout the city, as the 

 long, snake-like line of fire wound its way along 

 crescent, street, and promenade. Whether man or 

 woman held the torch it was sometimes difficult to 

 saj : sn that if the women students were not present. 



2l86, VOL. 87] 



their places were sympathetically tilled. To add to 

 the charm of the proceedings the old tower of to! 

 United College of St. Salvator and St. Leonards wag 

 outlined each evening at every angle by rows of 

 electric lamps — white, blue, and red. 



Finally, a symposium was held in the Volunteer 

 Hall under the auspices of the Students' Represents 

 five Council, at which all graduates and students of 

 the University met. Many old friends thus had an 

 opportunity of seeing each other and ot contrasting 

 the old rdgime with the new, and there was no 

 happier assembly during the celebration than this. 



Under bright sunshine the morning of Wednesday. 

 September 13, was occupied by marshalling in the 

 United College quadrangle the assembled UniversnJ 

 Court, Senate, lecturers, graduates — both ordinary and 

 honorary — students, including members of the Officers 

 Training Corps, delegates and distinguished men frog 

 the colonies, India, from foreign universi 

 societies, Lords of Session, sheriffs, the Provost anj 

 Town Council, and others to form a procession to the 

 town church (Holy Trinity), so recently and so finely 

 restored under the auspices of Dr. P. M. Playfair. 

 In the church an impressive commemoration service 

 was performed, chapters were read by the chancellor 

 and vice-chancellor, the "Te Deum Laudamus " was 

 sung, and an appropriate and eloquent sermon was 

 given bv the Moderator of the General Assembly (Prin- 

 cipal Stewart, of St. Mary's College). Prayers were said 

 by Dr. Playfair and the Very Rev. Archibald Hender- 

 son, D.D., clerk of the United Free Church, and it is 

 noteworthy that the first prayer was a translation bg 

 the late Marquis of Bute, a former rector of the Univer- 

 sitv, of the prayer given in 1413 on the arrival of the 

 papal Hulls establishing the University. The whole 

 tone of the procession and its surroundings and of the 

 service in the Church of the Holy Trinity was in 

 keeping with old academic tradition, and the smir 

 feeling pervaded the great assemblage. In no other 

 Scotch city could the combination of past and presea 

 render the scene more purely academic. 



In the afternoon the presentation of congratulatory 

 addresses took place in the North Hall, the chan- 

 cellor, rector, and the staff occupying the platform. 

 About 166 addresses were handed in by the dis- 

 tinguished deli gates of universities, learned soci 

 university general councils, town councils, churches. 

 and other important bodies; and as each was as 

 rule arrayed in official robes, with gold chains and 

 orders, the scene was one of the most interesting in the 

 celebration. As the representatives of each country were 

 announced, the hand played a brief hut appl 

 piece of music. The chancellor 1 Lord Balfoui 

 leigh), after reading a letter from the King, then 

 delivered an eloquent and masterly address, in which 

 he w .lei .ined the delegates from all parts of the world. 

 alluded in the founders of the University, its conoj 

 nental character, its modern modifications, the eltect 

 of its training on the national life, and finally he 

 sketched a picture of the future of the University. 

 Principal Sir James Donaldson then welcomed the 

 delegates ami quests on behalf of the senate. 



A delightful entertainment, consisting of historical 

 tableaux connected with the University, was given by 

 the students in the evening. Moreover, students nf 

 the 'eightii - I t88o-q) had a special symposium. 



Equally favourable was the weather of Thursday 

 morning, when the rector of the University, tin chosen 

 representative of the students, was installed. The 

 popularity of the Earl of Rosebery, who now 1 

 the rectorship in every Scottish university, was sufta 

 1 ienl ti ' lia\ 1' tilled the vasl hall several ti 

 and, as it wa^, every available space was packed! 



