103 
COLLEGE REMINISCENCES. 
By Paul Pry. 
First Admission to the College — Mr. Coleman—Introductory 
Lecture—Grooms and Surgeons—Comparative Anatomy. 
“ A chiel’s ainang ye takin notes, 
And faith he’ll prent it.” 
Addison has said that an author should take all methods to 
humble himself in the opinion he has of his own performances. 
I can with truth declare that I have this impression as strong 
upon me as ever Mr. Vines, the assistant demonstrator of the 
Veterinary College, had when he sent his last bantling, in the 
form of an appendix, forth to the world. After this avowal, and 
I am convinced you will call it a modest one, I can certainly 
hope that my Reminiscences will be received with indulgence. 
Almost every one now writes something: the scribimus in- 
docti doctique was never in greater force:— 
-Those who cannot write, and those who can, 
All rhyme, and scrawl, and scribble to a man.” 
The most difficult part of my performance is to know how to 
begin well, and here I am bothered. How shall I begin ? “ Be - 
lier mon ami,” says the giant to the historiagraphical ram, in one 
of Count Anthony Hamilton’s tales, “ cornmencez toujours par 
le commencement” As no advice can be more reasonable, I 
shall comply with it, and enter at once into the subject. 
I could easily inform my readers how very pleasant and inge¬ 
nious I intend to be, but decline proving it beforehand. The 
greater the flourish of trumpets now-a-days, the more suspicions 
what follows: whatever, therefore, it may be my luck to turn 
out, I at least wave the privilege of having the way prepared by 
my own mouthpiece. If I succeed, so much the better; if not, 
I shall at all events not die of the “ previous question,” like an 
honest proposal in parliament. 
The fact is, I have hated every thing in the shape of a pro¬ 
spectus ever since I read Mr. Vines’ publication on glanders. 
Certes I ought to have known better than to have trusted him, 
for I feared the man of promise at first. “ Quid dignum tanto 
ferret hie promissor hiata l ” Surely it may now be said, “ Par - 
turiunt montes ; nascetur ridiculus mus !” —But enough of this. 
The writer was intended from his birth for the medical profes¬ 
sion. His father, after giving him a liberal education, bound 
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