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studies generally； rather repels them。 Macaulay took no honours at
Cambridge； mathematics defied him。 Scott was ‘the Greek dunce；' at
Edinburgh。 Thackeray； Shelley； Gibbon； did not cover themselves
with college laurels； they read what pleased them； they did not read
‘for the schools。' In short； this behaviour at college is the rule
among men who are to be distinguished in literature； not the
exception。 The honours attained at Oxford by Mr。 Swinburne； whose
Greek verses are no less poetical than his English poetry； were
inconspicuous。 At St。 Andrews； Murray read only ‘for human
pleasure；' like Scott； Thackeray； Shelley； and the rest； at
Edinburgh； Oxford； and Cambridge。 In this matter； I think； he made
an error； and one which affected his whole career。 He was not a man
of private fortune； like some of those whom we have mentioned。 He
had not a business ready for him to step into。 He had to force his
own way in life； had to make himself ‘self…supporting。' This was
all the more essential to a man of his honourable independence of
character； a man who not only would not ask a favour； but who
actually shrunk back from such chances as were offered to him； if
these chances seemed to be connected with the least discernible
shadow of an obligation。 At St。 Andrews； had he chosen to work hard
in certain branches of study； he might probably have gained an
exhibition； gone to Oxford or elsewhere； and； by winning a
fellowship； secured the leisure which was necessary for the
development of his powers。 I confess to believing in strenuous work
at the classics； as offering； apart from all material reward； the
best and most solid basis； especially where there is no exuberant
original genius； for the career of a man of letters。 The mental
discipline is invaluable； the training in accuracy is invaluable；
and invaluable is the life led in the society of the greatest minds；
the noblest poets； the most faultless artists of the world。 To
descend to ordinary truths； scholarship is； at lowest； an honourable
gagne…pain。 But Murray； like the majority of students endowed with
literary originality； did not share these rather old…fashioned
ideas。 The clever Scottish student is apt to work only too hard；
and； perhaps； is frequently in danger of exhausting his powers
before they are mature； and of injuring his health before it is
confirmed。 His ambitions； to lookers…on； may seem narrow and
school…boyish； as if he were merely emulous； and eager for a high
place in his ‘class；' as lectures are called in Scotland。 This was
Murray's own view； and he certainly avoided the dangers of academic
over…work。 He read abundantly； but； as Fitzgerald says； he read
‘for human pleasure。' He never was a Greek scholar； he disliked
Philosophy； as presented to him in class…work； the gods had made him
poetical； not metaphysical。
There was one other cause of his lack of even such slender
commercial success in letters as was really necessary to a man who
liked ‘plain living and high thinking。' He fell early in love with
a city； with a placehe lost his heart to St。 Andrews。 Here； at
all events； his critic can sympathise with him。 His ‘dear St。
Andrews Bay；' beautiful alike in winter mists and in the crystal
days of still winter sunshine； the quiet brown streets brightened by
the scarlet gowns； the long limitless sands； the dark blue distant
hills； and far…off snowy peaks of the Grampians； the majestic
melancholy towers； monuments of old religion overthrown； the deep
dusky porch of the college chapel； with Kennedy's arms in wrought
iron on the oaken door； the solid houses with their crow steps and
gables； all the forlorn memories of civil and religious feud； of
inhabitants saintly； royal； heroic； endeared St。 Andrews to Murray。
He could not say； like our other poet to Oxford； ‘Farewell； dear
city of youth and dream！' His whole nature needed the air； ‘like
wine。' He found； as he remarks； ‘health and happiness in the German
Ocean；' swimming out beyond the ‘lake' where the witches were
dipped； walking to the grey little coast…towns； with their wealth of
historic documents； their ancient kirks and graves； dreaming in the
vernal woods of Mount Melville or Strathtyrum； rambling （without a
fishing…rod） in the charmed ‘dens' of the Kenley burn； a place like
Tempe in miniature： these things were Murray's usual enjoyments；
and they became his indispensable needs。 His peculiarly shy and； as
it were； silvan nature； made it physically impossible for him to
live in crowded streets and push his way through throngs of
indifferent men。 He could not live even in Edinburgh； he made the
effort； and his health； at no time strong； seems never to have
recovered from the effects of a few months spent under a roof in a
large town。 He hurried back to St。 Andrews： her fascination was
too powerful。 Hence it is that； dying with his work scarcely begun；
he will always be best remembered as the poet of The Scarlet Gown；
the Calverley or J。 K。 S。 of Kilrymont； endowed with their humour；
their skill in parody； their love of youth； but （if I am not
prejudiced） with more than the tenderness and natural magic of these
regretted writers。 Not to be able to endure crowds and towns； （a
matter of physical health and constitution； as well as of
temperament） was； of course； fatal to an ordinary success in
journalism。 On the other hand； Murray's name is inseparably
connected with the life of youth in the little old college； in the
University of the Admirable Crichton and Claverhouse； of the great
Montrose and of Ferguson；the harmless Villon of Scotland；the
University of almost all the famous Covenanters； and of all the
valiant poet…Cavaliers。 Murray has sung of the life and pleasures
of its students； of examinations and Gaudeamusessupper partieshe
has sung of the sands； the links； the sea； the towers； and his name
and fame are for ever blended with the air of his city of youth and
dream。 It is not a wide name or a great fame； but it is what he
would have desired； and we trust that it may be long…lived and
enduring。 We are not to wax elegiac； and adopt a tearful tone over
one so gallant and so uncomplaining。 He failed； but he was
undefeated。
In the following sketch of Murray's life and work use is made of his
letters； chiefly of letters to his mother。 They always illustrate
his own ideas and attempts； frequently they throw the light of an
impartial and critical mind on the distinguished people whom Murray
observed from without。 It is worth remarking that among many
remarks on persons； I have found not one of a censorious； cynical；
envious； or unfriendly nature。 Youth is often captious and keenly
critical； partly because youth generally has an ideal； partly；
perhaps chiefly； from mere intellectual high spirits and sense of
the incongruous； occasionally the motive is jealousy or spite。
Murray's sense of fun was keen； his ideal was lofty； of envy； of an
injured sense of b