THE PROPOSED GAELIC UNIVERSITY FOR THE HIGHLANDS
[To the. Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,--I have read with interest most of what has been written and spoken on the above-mentioned subject both in Scotland and in England, and, as a Gaelic-speaking Highlander, I feel sure the Spectator will give me a fair hearing in criticizing this recent attempt to create a Gaelic Utopia in my native glens. The generosity of the American people in furthering the progress of knowledge is well known ; and it is not in a spirit of ingratitude that I wish to criticize this additional evidence of their goodwill towards us. As a true lover of my country, however, I cannot but agree with those who, for a similar reason, consider that two or three millions of money applied to founding and maintaining a Gaelic University in the Highlands of Scotland would be money wasted.
The " English " civilization of the Highlands came to
us as part of the common heritage of Lowland Scotland and England, through our famous universities, which have, for centuries, bred a solid scholarship and a noble standard of life, and it is not clear how a few simple enthusiasts—even with the help of two or three millions of money—can, at this time of day, hope to arrest its development. We are told, of course, that this new " stunt " is intended to foster an intensive study of Gaelic language and literature, and so repair a gap which has long existed in our traditional scheme of cultural education in Scotland. If the Highland student, however, is to be properly equipped for the increasingly hard battle of life in a rapidly progressive age, he will do well to leave all impossible ideals to the visionaries who propose them. The Highlands have suffered quite enough from this sort of thing in the past. To lock up the genius of the Highland people in a language which is unknown south of the Grampians, by any scheme which would change our traditional system of Scottish education, would be a blunder of the first magnitude. The cry to-day in both Scottish and English schools is : English, more English ; and still more English." During my own childhood in the Highlands, it was pretty i%ch the same there. The Highland crofter was proud when his children could read and speak English fluently ; and his pride reached the stage of elation when they found their way to a university. If, by reason of surpassing talent, any of them got as far as Oxford or Cambridge (and, be it remem- bered, Highland crofters' sons have done this), then, indeed, his cup of happiness was full to overflowing. Can any sane person deny that his pride was a noble one, or that his attitude in the matter was the essence of common sense ? Of the virtues of Gaelic as an instrument of higher education the Highland crofter of my time said nothing, and, very probably, thought less. He set exclusive value on high attainments for his children in English, Greek, Latin and Mathematics. Was he wrong ? I certainly think not. All that is worth pre- serving of pristine Gaelic customs, traditions and literature will survive without the aid of fantastic and fruitless schemes such as the one proposed.—I am, Sir, &c., South Africa. HIGHLANDER.
[Our correspondent is the son of a Highland crofter, whose sons all became graduates at a Scottish university, at a time when it was much more difficult to do so than it is to-day.- En. Spectator.]
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