STERN CALEDONIA A CRADLE OF SUCCESS

Shannon News, 16 August 1929, Page 4

STERN CALEDONIA A CRADLE OF SUCCESS

J CONQUERING SCOTS. I One day in the 'forties two boys left a small school at Mortlach, in which is Dufftown. . One entered the Army; the other, son of a carpenter, became herdboy on the minister '* glebe. Later the boys met in London. One w r as Field-Marshal Sir Donald Stewart, Commander-in-Chief in India, the other Lord Mount Stephen, millionaire.,

The north-east of Scotland is full of tales of that kind. An Edinburgh University lecturer told me: "They are a conquering race up there." Certainly ability, determination, and ambition have abounded. But does the northeast produce genius? Dr James Ritchie, of the Eoyal Scottish museum, himself an Aberdonian, says: "xlberdecn has produced a high level of ability which (iocs 'not rise to the peak of fame; she resembles her own Hill o' Fare, a high flat plateau with nothing of a summit. The genius of the north-east has a characteristic mentality associated with it, a bent for science and mathematics, for minute, detailed work, for accuracy ia small things. And Dr. J. F. Tocher, the Aberdeen analyst and statistician, told mc: "We are very good second-raters." But however high or low Aberdeen may rate itself, the achievements of her sons, many of humble origin, are remarkable. M.A. At Seventeen.

The late Professor A. W. Mair, whos death in a fire was reported a few weeks ago, occupied the Greek Chair at Edinburgh. He was the son of a Grange (Banffshire) grocer. There were five sons. All took first-class honours in classics. Professor Mair entered Aberdeen University at 14 years of age and took his M.A. degree at 17.

What are the secrets of these men's success? Sir George Adam Smith, principal of Aberdeen. University, said:: "Most of them knew they had to work for themselves; and, second, I. put a good deal down to' the climate. ''

A distinguished anthropologist, speaking on north-east coast ability generally, said: The bulk of the people arc a roundheaded, mid-European, agricultural type. / .

They are good mathematicians, patient piodders, lacking imagination, having a passion for detail, and apt to lo,se the big goal iu seeing to detail. But there are a sprinkling #f the Nordic type of long and narrow head, iiianof imagination and a flash of genius. They are usually tall, fairhaired, blue-eyed Of that type is Sir Arthur Keith, president of the British Association.