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what was more important at the time； money to go on with。 He now
lives on the scholarship which he took at that time； is an
assistant professor； and； in a fortnight； will begin a course of
lectures for ladies in connection with his university。 Writing
to me a few days ago；＇13＇ he says； 'My health； broken down with
my last struggle； is quite restored； and I live with the hope of
working on。 Many have worked more constantly； but few have
worked more intensely。 I found kindness on every hand always；
but had I failed in a single instance I should have met with
entire bankruptcy。 The failure would have been ruinous。。。。 I
thank God for the struggle； but would not like to see a dog try
it again。 There are droves of lads in Wales that would creep up
but they cannot。 Poverty has too heavy a hand for them。'〃
The gentleman whose brief history is thus summarily given by Mr。
Davies； is now well known as a professor of philosophy； and； if
his health be spared； he will become still better known。 He is
the author of several important works on 'Moral Philosophy；'
published by a leading London firm； and more works are announced
from his pen。 The victorious struggle for knowledge which we
have recounted might possibly be equalled； but it could not
possibly be surpassed。 There are； however； as Mr。 Davies related
to the Parliamentary Committee； many instances of Welsh students
most of them originally quarrymenwho keep themselves at
school by means of the savings effected from manual labour； 〃in
frequent cases eked out and helped by the kindness of friends and
neighbours；〃 who struggle up through many difficulties； and
eventually achieve success in the best sense of the term。 〃One
young man〃as the teacher of a grammar…school； within two miles
of Bangor； related to Mr。 Davies 〃who came to me from the
quarry some time ago； was a gold medallist at Edinburgh last
winter；〃 and contributions are readily made by the quarrymen to
help forward any young man who displays an earnest desire for
knowledge in science and literature。
It is a remarkable fact that the quarrymen of Carnarvonshire have
voluntarily contributed large sums of money towards the
establishment of the University College in North Walesthe
quarry districts in that county having contributed to that fund；
in the course of three years； mostly in half…crown subscriptions；
not less than 508L。 4s。 4d。 〃a fact；〃 says Mr。 Davies； 〃without
its parallel in the history of the education of any country；〃 the
most striking feature being； that these collections were made in
support of an institution from which the quarrymen could only
very remotely derive any benefit。
While I was at Bangor； on the 24th of August； 1883； the news
arrived that the Committee of Selection had determined that
Bangor should be the site for the intended North Wales University
College。 The news rapidly spread； and great rejoicings prevailed
throughout the borough； which had just been incorporated。 The
volunteer band played through the streets； the church bells rang
merry peals； and gay flags were displayed from nearly every
window。 There never was such a triumphant display before in the
cause of University education。
As Mr。 Cadwalladr Davies observed at the banquet； which took
place on the following day： 〃The establishment of the new
institution will mark the dawn of a new era in the history of the
Welsh people。 He looked to it； not only as a means of imparting
academical knowledge to the students within its walls； but also
as a means of raising the intellectual and moral tone of the
whole people。 They were fond of quoting the saying of a great
English writer； that there was something Grecian in the Celtic
race； and that the Celtic was the refining element in the British
character； but such remarks； often accompanied as they were with
offensive comparisons from Eisteddfod platforms； would in future
be put to the test； for they would； with their new educational
machinery； be placed on a footing of perfect equality with the
Scotch and the Irish people。〃
And here must come to an end the character history of my autumn
tour in Ireland； Scotland； Yorkshire； and Wales。 I had not the
remotest intention when setting out of collecting information and
writing down my recollections of the journey。 But the persons I
met； and the information I received； were of no small
interestat least to myself； and I trust that the reader will
derive as much pleasure from perusing my observations as I have
had in collecting and writing them down。 I do think that the
remarkable persons whose history and characters I have
endeavoured； however briefly； to sketch； will be found to afford
many valuable and important lessons of Self…Help； and to
illustrate how the moral and industrial foundations of a country
may be built up and established。
Footnotes for Chapter XII。
＇1＇ A 〃poet；〃 who dates from 〃New York； March 1883；〃 has
published seven stanzas； entitled 〃Change here for Blairgowrie；〃
from which we take the following：
〃From early morn till late at e'en；
John's honest face is to be seen；
Bustling about the trains between；
Be 't sunshine or be 't showery；
And as each one stops at his door；
He greets it with the well…known roar
Of 'Change here for Blairgowrie。'
Even when the still and drowsy night
Has drawn the curtains of our sight；
John's watchful eyes become more bright；
And take another glow'r aye
Thro' yon blue dome of sparkling stars
Where Venus bright and ruddy Mars
Shine down upon Blairgowrie。
He kens each jinkin' comet's track；
And when it's likely to come back；
When they have tails； and when they lack
In heaven the waggish power aye；
When Jupiter's belt buckle hings；
And the Pyx mark on Saturn's rings；
He sees from near Blairgowrie。〃
＇2＇ The Observatory； No。 61； p。 146； and No。 68； p。 371。
＇3＇ In an article on the subject in the Dundee Evening Telegraph；
Mr。 Robertson observes： 〃If our finite minds were more capable
of comprehension； what a glorious view of the grandeur of the
Deity would be displayed to us in the contemplation of the centre
and source of light and heat to the solar system。 The force
requisite to pour such continuous floods to the remotest parts of
the system must ever baffle the mind of man to grasp。 But we are
not to sit down in indolence： our duty is to inquire into
Nature's works； though we can never exhaust the field。 Our minds
cannot imagine motion without some Power moving through the
medium of some subordinate agency； ever acting on the sun； to
send such floods of light and heat to our otherwise cold and dark
terrestrial ball； but it is the overwhelming magnitude of such
power that we are incapable of comprehending。 The agency
necessary to throw out the floods of flame seen during the few
moments of a total eclipse of the sun； and the power requisite to
burst open a cavity in its surface； su