14 JANUARY 1922, Page 15

ABERDEEN AND EDUCATION.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR, It is with no intention to belittle Mr. Pirie's list of famous Aberdonians that I pan this note, still less to minimize the deduction he draws as to the influence education has had upon its length. The list is sufficiently notable without includ- ing any not properly belonging to Aberdeen. Even the area of the proverbial boast of Aberdonians, " Tak' awn' Aiberdeen and twat' mile roond and whaur are ye?" will not permit the inclusion of Lord and Lady Inchcape in the list. Both are " Red Lichties," the local cognomen for sons and daughters of the ancient burgh of Arbroath. Their attachment to their birthplace is sufficiently indicated in the fact that Lord Inchcape took his title from the Inchcape Rock immortalized by Southey's ballad, and ever closely associated with it from the day the Abbot of Aberbrothock placed a bell thereon to warn mariners of this dangerous reef.—I am, Sir, &c.,