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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 being neglected； he does not show one trace。 To
make fun of their masters and pastors； tutors； professors； is the
general and not necessarily unkind tendency of pupils。 Murray
rarely mentions any of the professors in St。 Andrews except in terms
of praise； which is often enthusiastic。 Now； as he was by no means
a prize student； or pattern young man for a story…book； this
generosity is a high proof of an admirable nature。 If he chances to
speak to his mother about a bore； and he did not suffer bores
gladly； he not only does not name the person； but gives no hint by
which he might be identified。 He had much to embitter him； for he
had a keen consciousness of ‘the something within him；' of the
powers which never found full expression； and he saw others
advancing and prospering while he seemed to be standing still； or
losing ground in all ways。 But no word of bitterness ever escapes
him in the correspondence which I have seen。 In one case he has to
speak of a disagreeable and disappointing interview with a man from
whom he had been led to expect sympathy and encouragement。 He told
me about this affair in conversation； ‘There were tears in my eyes
as I turned from the house；' he said； and he was not effusive。 In a
letter to Mrs。 Murray he describes this unlucky interview；a
discouragement caused by a manner which was strange to Murray；
rather than by real unkindness；and he describes it with a
delicacy； with a reserve； with a toleration； beyond all praise。
These are traits of a character which was greater and more rare than
his literary talent： a character quite developed； while his talent
was only beginning to unfold itself； and to justify his belief in
his powers。
Robert Murray was the eldest child of John and Emmeline Murray： the
father a Scot； the mother of American birth。 He was born at
Roxbury； in Massachusetts； on December 26th； 1863。 It may be fancy；
but； in his shy reserve； his almost farouche independence； one seems
to recognise the Scot； while in his cast of literary talent； in his
natural ‘culture；' we observe the son of a refined American lady。
To his mother he could always write about the books which were
interesting him； with full reliance on her sympathy； though indeed；
he does not often say very much about literature。
Till 1869 he lived in various parts of New England； his father being
a Unitarian minister。 ‘He was a remarkably cheerful and
affectionate child； and seldom seemed to find anything to trouble
him。' In 1869 his father carried him to England； Mrs。 Murray and a
child remaining in America。 For more than a year the boy lived with
kinsfolk near Kelso； the beautiful old town on the Tweed where Scott
passed some of his childish days。 In 1871 the family were reunited
at York； where he was fond of attending the services in the
Cathedral。 Mr。 Murray then took charge of the small Unitarian
chapel of Blackfriars； at Canterbury。 Thus Murray's early youth was
passed in the mingled influences of Unitarianism at home； and of
Cathedral services at York； and in the church where Becket suffered
martyrdom。 A not unnatural result was a somewhat eclectic and
unconstrained religion。 He thought but little of the differences of
creed； believing that all good men held； in essentials； much the
same faith。 His view of essentials was generous； as he admitted。
He occasionally spoke of himself as ‘sceptical；' that is； in
contrast with those whose faith was more definite； more dogmatic；
more securely based on ‘articles。' To illustrate Murray's religious
attitude； at least as it was in 1887； one may quote from a letter of
that year （April 17）。
‘There was a University sermon； and I thought I would go and hear
it。 So I donned my old cap and gown and felt quite proud of them。
The preacher was Bishop Wordsworth。 He goes in for the union of the
Presbyterian and Episcopalian Churches； and is glad to preach in a
Presbyteri