University of St. Andrews

Abstract

THE “University of St. Andrews: Handbook of the United College” published by the St. Andrews University Press is a neat little brochure clad in the scarlet of the well-known gown. The University stands first in Scotland in age, and the latest of its senior foundations, the College of St. Mary, is of 1537. That of 1450 is still represented by the tower of St. Salvator. conspicuous from the sea. The unique graduate rolls date from 1413. Quaint customs survive such as Kate Kennedy Day. There was a period of decay which Johnson saw; but the College revived to produce its full share of eminent men and a reputation for research in chemistry. The successful rigour of the past is shown by a student who entered in 1819 and lived for more than six months on little more than £14. Games were prohibited in the monastic College of St. Leonard except a weekly visit to the links in the company of a Master. “It takes a heid to play golf,” as a famous exponent of it once remarked. Considerable use has been made of the book on “Historic St. Andrews and Its University” by Prof. J. Read, professor of chemistry there, while Mr. John Hinton Read has provided most of the photographs for the effective illustrations.