Life and Scientific Work of Peter Guthrie Tait - School of Mathematics ...

SENIOR WRANGLER 9
Steele seems to have been generally ahead of Tait in the College examina-
tions, so that Tail's winning of the Senior Wranglership came somewhat as
a surprise to those who deemed they knew. The story of this day, famous
in the annals of Peterhouse, is well told by J.
D. Hamilton Dickson in the
Magazine of the Peterhouse Sexcentenary Club for the Michaelmas Term,
1902.
" How the
morning
old gyp's face used to light up as he told the story of that January
when the Tripos list was read. One gyp was in the Senate House to
hear the list, and as soon as Steele's name came out as Senior Wrangler he was to
rush out and make a signal by stretching out his arms like a big T another ; gyp
near the '
Bull '
was to repeat the signal and a third at the ; College gate was to
rush in with the news. When that list was read and Tait's name came first the
gyp nearly collapsed, but hearing Steele's name next he recovered, and noting only
that Peterhouse was first, rushed out, made the signal, and fled with all speed to
College to correct the pardonable error he had telegraphed."
Tait telegraphed home "Tait Senior, Steele second, tell Gloag." How
Gloag received the news is told in a footnote in the Chronicles of the Gumming
Club.
"When intelligence reached the Academj' of the great event, Gloag was 'raised'
and out of himself with excitement.
'
Have ye hard the news aboot
'
Tait ? he
asked of everybody he met, M— among others.
a Bishopric, I suppose, or something of that sort.'
'
No,' answered M— ,
'
No, Sir,
'
he's got
it's not Archibald
Cam'ell Tait it's Peter Guthrie Tait, a vara different parson' — Senior Wrangler, Sir,'
and off he went to spread the news."
Through the kindness of Sir Doyle Money Shaw, at that time president
of the Gumming Club, Mr Beatson Bell, for many years Secretary of the
Club, was able to show me the brief note in which Tait told of his success.
Coll :
My dear Doyle,
I'm all in a flutter
Div
:
I scarcely can utter, &c., as
the song has it :—
Pet
:
Cant.
/any. 31J/ 1852.
I AM SENIOR WRANGLER!
Tell it to the Gumming Club— &c.
&c. and believe me
yours very sincerely
Peter Guthrie Tait, B.A.
' So Gloag pronounced "person.'"