as typical of the education given in Training Colleges, or as a measure of the mental calibre of the students generally. The university lists afford clear proofs of their industry and ability, and the professors in the Arts Faculty give hearty testimony as to their being a valuable element in the various classes, by their steady and successful application, and by the distinctions they have gained. The following amusing blunders in French are selections from papers written by Training College students and pupils in higher class schools: "Je reçus à son adresse un coup d'épée dans la poitrine." One writes, "I received in his house a letter in poetry." Another, "I received his address on the back of his photograph." "Montrez moi le chemin qui conduit à la ville." "Show me the chemise that was made in the city." "C'est lui qui mangeait mes confitures." "It was he who managed my comforts." "J'ai beau me défendre." "I have a gentleman to protect me." "C'est égal. Des qu'ils furent loin, je sortis de ma cachette." 66 All the same, as furious as a lion I sorted my hatchet." "A nos chagrins réels c'est une utile trêve." "To our giddy reels this is a useful respite." "Oublie de glaces de son âge." (1) "Obliged to wear glasses by age." (2) "Skating on the ice of his time." When the fleet of Cortes arrived at Mexico a crowd came to see it "attiré par les spectacles," which was translated "dressed in their spectacles." Four different versions were given of "I shall blow my nose." (1) "Je wiperai mon nez." (2) "Je blouerai mon nez." (3) "Je venterai mon nez." (4) "Je sifflerai mon nez." To the question, "What is the difference in meaning between seul before, and after, a substantive?" the answer was, "Seul before, alone; after, drunk." Obviously a mistake for soul. One boy says, "Racine was the greatest tragedy-writer of the nineteenth century." Parchemin is derived from "par bye, and chemin road, a side-road." = N = The following are German mistakes: Comparison of voll: "positive, voll; comparative, über; no superlative. Example, das Glas ist voll; das Glas ist über." "Im Glanze der Abendsonne," "In the shadow of the moon." In describing a religious man the sentence "denn er fürchtete den Hernn," was translated "for he frightened the gentleman." Another translated "Sein Weib und seine Kinder sind in Armuth gerathen," by "His wife and his children are residing in Yarmouth." Goethe is described as "A great German. He died last century, and wrote 'Faust up to date,' and some other little things." DIVINITY STUDENT TEACHERS. 195 CHAPTER XVII. BEFORE 1872 MANY PARISH SCHOOLMASTERS IN THE NORTH WERE DIVINITY STUDENTS AN OCCASIONAL HITCH ONE AND MARTHA-MINISTER AND TEACHER GENERALLY GOOD FRIENDS-ONE TO TEACHER OF MORE BUSINESS BUT LESS SYMPATHETIC BEFORE the passing of the Act of 1872 it was very common, especially in Aberdeen, Banff, and Moray, and even farther north, to find in charge of parish schools certificated teachers who were divinity students. These, in order to attend the short divinity session, appointed substitutes to take charge of their schools in their absence. Up to this time the minister of the parish was almost invariably the correspondent for the school. When the inspection fell within the currency of the session, the correspondent on receiving intimation of my visit wrote at once to the teacher that he might be present on the day appointed. An inspector had no direct means of knowing of the temporary absence of the teacher if he found him at his post when the visit was made. Hitches, however, sometimes occurred through postal or other irregularities, and the absence of the teacher involved forfeiture of grant. This, I think, happened only twice in my experience. In one case the correspondent had addressed his letter to Aberdeen instead of Old Aberdeen, and the teacher did not get it in time to return to take charge of the school. It was a day of heavy snow, and I was strongly urged to name another day, and to give as a reason that snowstorm prevented me from reaching the school. The obvious reply to this was, "But I am here, and have reached the school." The grant was of course refused. In the other case the correspondent honestly accepted the inevitable. He had neglected to write to the absent teacher, and the grant here also was forfeited. I had much more trouble in connection with a school in a remote corner of Ross-shire. It was small and very elementary. The correspondent was the minister, a most unreasonable ill-tempered man, continually quarrelling with his teachers, who often remained with him only |