Davies-- "who came to me from the
quarry some time ago, was a gold medallist at Edinburgh last
winter;" and contributions are readily made by the quarrymen to
help forward any young man who displays an earnest desire for
knowledge in science and literature.
It is a remarkable fact that the quarrymen of Carnarvonshire have
voluntarily contributed large sums of money towards the
establishment of the University College in North Wales--the
quarry districts in that county having contributed to that fund,
in the course of three years, mostly in half-crown subscriptions,
not less than 508L. 4s. 4d.-- "a fact," says Mr. Davies, "without
its parallel in the history of the education of any country;" the
most striking feature being, that these collections were made in
support of an institution from which the quarrymen could only
very remotely derive any benefit.
While I was at Bangor, on the 24th of August, 1883, the news
arrived that the Committee of Selection had determined that
Bangor should be the site for the intended North Wales University
College. The news rapidly spread, and great rejoicings prevailed
throughout the borough, which had just been incorporated. The
volunteer band played through the streets; the church bells rang
merry peals; and gay flags were displayed from nearly every
window. There never was such a triumphant display before in the
cause of University education.
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