I must not omit William Fraser, the educational reformer who helped David Stow to carry out his training system for teachers in Scotland, and who later investigated Scottish education, and wrote an important book on the subject of which the results were afterwards embodied in legislation. He died in 1879.
Along with him may well be mentioned the late James Fraser, Bishop of Manchester, a very famous man from Forfarshire, one of the Frasers of Durris, of whom it has been said that there has not been in this generation a more simple or noble soul. He interests us especially for his work in education, and forms a connecting link between our school system and English educational reform, for he visited Canada and the United States in 1865, and drew up a report which his biographer, Thomas Hughes, calls "a superb, an almost unique piece of work." It was the basis of the Foster Act of 1870, by which enormous changes were introduced in the direction of the American system.
Worthy of being put by his side was Rev. Donald Fraser, D.D., who died two years ago, of whom we should hear more under the head of theology. He received part of his education in old Knox College, Toronto, and was pastor of the Cote Street Church, Montreal, from which he was called to Inverness, thence to London, England.
In my mass of material, I had almost forgotten Patrick Lord Fraser, who died only five years ago. He was a very great man of the law, one of Scotland's greatest, and wrote extensively on legal subjects.
The Frasers, however, were not all heavy writers. Many of us remember John Fraser, who met his death by accident in Ottawa in 1872. He was best known as "Cousin Sandy." He had been a chartist before coming to Canada. He was a tailor by trade, and laid aside the needle for that other sharp pointed instrument, the pen. Most of his work was controversial and sarcastic. Here is a sample of his rollicking verse, reminding one strongly of the Ingoldsby legends:
"William Blyth was a scape-grace—as many boys are— Who with prudence and forethought was always at war; His genius was active; I've heard, or have read, That his grandma was nervous; his father was dead; And his mother, released from connubial vows, Brought home to her dwelling a second hand spouse, Who gave her a heart, somewhat hard and obtuse, In exchange for her furniture ready for use. Now William like others, without leave would roam, And be absent when lather the second came home; So he of the step, which step-father should be, Said 'To save the lad's morals we'll send him to sea.'"
The boy was confined in a water-cask for bad conduct.
"And the wave cleared the deck of the vessel, and she Like one half 'seas over' rolled about in the sea. Then a shriek was heard, and the boatswain roar'd 'There's Bill and the tub gone overboard!'"
He floated to shore after an interview with a shark, a cow switched her tail against the tub, and Bill caught it while the cow fled, and wrecked the tub, but saved Bill's life, although he remained unconscious.