14 JANUARY 1922, Page 15

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,-With the Grammar

School of Aberdeen deserves to be mentioned a small private school, the " Gymnasium," or " Chanonry House School," in old Aberdeen, familiarly known as the "Gym." It was founded by a remarkable man, far in advance of his time 'educationally, the Rev. Dr. Alexander Anderson, and conducted by him personally for the greater part of the forty years of its existence. For most of that time it was the successful rival of the Grammar School, as the University records show. For names of old boys who have made their mark I give you a few—I could easily extend the list—which occur to me currente calamo: Sir -Patrick Manson, Sir 'Harvey Adamson and Sir John 0. Miller, of the I.C.S.; Sir James Galloway, M.D., K.B.E.; Sir William Ramsay, D.C.L., of Asia Minor fame; Sir W. Allardyce, Governor of Tasmania.; Sir Everard Fraser, Consul-General at Pekin; and Professors Grierson, of Edinburgh, and Milligan, of Glasgow. In the year 1908, at Simla, there was a series of Public School dinners. The then Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjaub, himself a "Gym." boy, gave a "Gym." dinner, and I have seen it stated that "in respect of official weight" that dinner surpassed all. I must not trespass too far on your space, but perhaps you will kindly allow me to state that I have been commissioned to write a history of the old school. The work is now in progress, and I should be glad if any former pupils who read this will communicate with me.—I am, Sir, &c., Seagate, St. Andrews, Fife. A. SHEWAN.