Possiblythedifficultiestobeencounteredmayoccasionallyevokeunusualpowersofstudy；butthiscanonlyoccurinexceptionalcases。WhileatBangorMr。CadwalladrDaviesreadtometheletterofastudentandprofessor，whosepassionforknowledgeisofanextraordinarycharacter。WhileexaminedbeforetheParliamentaryCommitteeappointedtoinquireintotheconditionofintermediateandhighereducationinWalesandMonmouthshire，Mr。Daviesgaveevidencerelatingtothisandotherremarkablecases，ofwhichthefollowingisanabstract，condensedbyhimself:——
　　“Thenightschoolsinthequarrydistrictshavebeendoingaverygreatwork；and，iftheCommitteewillallowme，IwillreadanextractfromaletterwhichIreceivedfromMr。BradleyJones，masteroftheBoardSchoolsatLlanarmon，nearMold，Flintshire，whosomeyearsagokeptaveryflourishingnightschoolintheneighbourhood。Hesays:’DuringthewholeofthetimefourteenyearsthatIwasatCarneddi，Icarriedontheseschools，andI
　　believeIhavehadmoreexperienceofsuchinstitutionsthananyteacherinNorthWales。Forseveralyearsabout120scholarsusedtoattendtheCarneddinightschoolinthewintermonths，foureveningsaweek。Nearlyallwerequarrymen，fromfourteentotwenty-oneyearsofage，andengagedatworkfrom7A。M。to5。30P。M。Sointensewastheirdesireforeducationthatsomeofthemhadtowalkadistanceoftwooreventhreemilestoschool。
　　These，besidesworkinghardallday，hadtowalksixmilesintheonecaseandnineintheotherbeforeschool-time，inadditiontothewalkhomeafterwards。Severalofthemusedtoattendalltheyearround，evencomingtomeforlessonsinsummerbeforegoingtowork，aswellasintheevening。Indeed，soanxiousweresomeofthem，thattheywouldoftencomeforlessonsasearlyasfiveo’clockinthemorning。Thismayappearalmostincredible，butanyofthemanagersoftheCarneddiSchoolcouldcorroboratethestatement。’
　　“Ihavenowinmymind’seye，“continuesMr。Bradley，“severaloftheseyoungmen，who，bydintofindefatigablelabourandself-denial，ultimatelyqualifiedthemselvesforpostsinwhichagoodeducationisasinequanon。Someofthemareto-dayquarrymanagers，professionalmen，certificatedteachers，andministersoftheGospel。FiveofthemareatthepresenttimestudentsatBalaCollege。OnegotasituationintheGlasgowPostOfficeasletter-carrier。Duringhisleisurehoursheattendedthelecturesatoneofthemedicalschoolsofthatcity，andincourseoftimegainedhisdiploma。Heisnowpractisingasasurgeon，andIunderstandwithsignalsuccess。ThisgentlemanworkedinthePenrhynQuarryuntilhewastwentyyearsold。I
　　couldgivemanymoreinstancesoftheresoluteandself-denyingspiritwithwhichtheyoungquarrymenofBethesdasoughttoeducatethemselves。Theteachersoftheotherschoolsinthatneighbourhoodcouldgivesimilarexamples，forduringthewintermonthsthereusedtobenolessthan300eveningscholarsunderinstructioninthedifferentschools。TheBethesdabooksellerscouldtellatalethatwouldsurpriseourEnglishfriends。I
　　havebeeninformedbyoneofthemthathehassoldtoyoungquarrymenanimmensenumberofsuchworksasLordMacaulay’s，StuartMill’s，andProfessorFawcett’s；anditisnouncommonsighttofindtheseandsimilarworksreadandstudiedbytheyoungquarrymenduringthedinnerhour。“
　　“Icangive，“proceedsMr。CadwalladrDavies，“oneremarkableinstancetoshowthestruggleswhichyoungWelshmenhavetoundertakeinordertogeteducation。Theboyinquestion，thesonof’poorbuthonestparents，’leftthesmallnationalschoolofhisnativevillagewhenhewas121/2yearsofage，andthenfollowedhisfather’soccupationofshoemakinguntilhewas16
　　1/2yearsofage。Afterworkinghardathistradeforfouryears，he，hisbrother，andtwofellowapprentices，formedthemselvesintoasortofclubtolearnshorthand，thewholematterbeingkeptaprofoundsecret。Theyhadnoteachers，andtheymetatthegas-works，sittingoppositetheretortsonabenchsupportedateachendwithbricks。TheydidnotpenetratefarintothemysteriesofWelshshorthand；theysoonabandonedtheattempt，andinducedthevillageschoolmastertoopenanightschool。
　　This，however，didnotlastlong。TheyoungCrispinwasreturninglateonenightfromLlanrwstincompanywithaladofthesameage，andbothhavingheardmuchoftheblessingsofeducationfromaScotchladywhotookakindlyinterestinthem，theirambitionwasinflamed，andtheyenteredintoasolemncompactthattheywouldthenceforwarddevotethemselvesbodyandsoultotheattainmentofanacademicaldegree。Yettheywerebothpoor。Onewasbutashoemaker’sapprentice，whiletheotherwasapupilteacherearningbutamiserableweeklypittance。Onecoulddothepartsofspeech；theothercouldnot。Onehadstruggledwiththepansasinorum；theotherhadneverseenit。I
　　maymentionthattheyoungpupilteacherisnowacurateintheChurchofEngland。HeisagraduateofCambridgeUniversityandaprizemanofClareCollege。Buttoreturntothelittleshoemaker。
　　“AfterreturninghomefromLlanrwst，hedisburthenedhishearttohismother，andtoldherthatshoemaking，whichuntilnowhehadpursuedwithextraordinaryzest，couldnolongerinteresthim。
　　Hismother，whowasequaltotheemergency，senttheboytoateacheroftheoldschool，whohadhimselfworkedhiswayfromtheplough。Aftertheexerciseofconsiderablediplomacy，anarrangementwasarrivedatwherebytheyouthwastogotoschoolonMondays，Wednesdays，andFridays，andmakeshoesduringtheremainingdaysoftheweek。Thissuitedhimadmirably。Thatverynightheseizeduponageography，andbegantolearnthecountiesofEnglandandWales。Thefearoffailureneverlefthimfortwohourstogether，exceptwhenheslept。Theplanofworkwasfaithfullykept；thoughbythistimeshoemakinghadlostitscharms。Heshortenedhissleepinghours，androseatanymomentthatheawoke——attwo，three，orfourinthemorning。Hegothisbrother，whohadbeenploddingwithhimovershorthand，tostudyhorticulture，andfruitandvegetableculture；andthatbrothershortlyaftertookahighplaceinanexaminationheldbytheRoyalHorticulturalSociety。Foratime，however，theyworkedtogether；andoftendidtheirmothergetupatfouro’clockinthedepthofwinter，lighttheirfire，andreturntobedaftercallingthemuptotheworkofself-culture。Eventhisdidnotsatisfytheirdevouringambition。Therewasabedintheworkshop，andtheyobtainedpermissiontosleepthere。Thentheyfollowedtheirownplans。Theyounggardenerwouldsituptilloneortwointhemorning，andwakehisbrother，whohadgonetobedassoonashehadgivenupworkthenightbefore。
　　Nowhegotupandstudiedthroughthesmallhoursofthemorninguntilthetimecamewhenhehadtotransferhisindustrytoshoemaking，orgotoschoolontheappointeddaysafterthedistanteighto’clockhadcome。Hisbrotherhadgotwornout。
　　Earlysleepseemedtobethebest。Theythenbothwenttobedabouteighto’clock，andgotthepolicemantocallthemupbeforeretiringhimself。
　　“Sothestrugglewenton，untilthefaithfuloldschoolmasterthoughtthathisyoungpupilmighttrytheexaminationattheBangorNormalCollege。Hewasnoweighteenyearsofage；anditwaseighteenmonthssincethetimewhenhebegantolearnthecountiesofEnglandandWales。HewenttoBangor，riggedoutinhisbrother’scoatandwaistcoat，whichwerebetterthanhisown；
　　andwithhisbrother’swatchinhispockettotimehimselfinhisexaminations。Hewentthroughhisexamination，butreturnedhomethinkinghehadfailed。Nevertheless，hehadinthemeantime，onthestrengthofacertificatewhichhehadobtainedsixmonthsbefore，inanexaminationheldbytheSocietyofArtsandSciencesinLiverpool，appliedforasituationasteacherinagrammar-schoolatOrmskirkinLancashire。Hesucceededinhisapplication，andhadbeenthereforonlyeightdayswhenhereceivedaletterfromMr。Rowlands，PrincipaloftheBangorNormalCollege，informinghimthathehadpassedattheheadofthelist，andwasthehighestnon-pupilteacherexaminedbytheBritishandForeignSociety。Havingobtainedpermissionfromhismastertoleave，hepackedhisclothesandhisfewbooks。Hehadnotenoughmoneytocarryhimhome；but，unasked，themasteroftheschoolgavehim10s。Hearrivedhomeaboutthreeo’clockonaSundaymorning，afterawalkofelevenmilesoveralonelyroadfromtheplacewherethetrainhadstopped。Hereeledontheway，andfoundthecountryreelingtoo。Hehadbeensleepingeightnightsinadampbed。SixweeksoftheBangorSessionpassed，andduringthattimehehadbeendelirious，andwastooweaktositupinbed。ButthesecondtimehecrossedthethresholdofhishomehemadeforBangorandgotbackhis“position，“whichwasallimportanttohim，andhekeptitallthrough。
　　“HavingfinishedhiscourseatBangorhewenttokeepaschoolatBrynaman；heendeavouredtostudybutcouldnot。Aftertwoyearshegaveuptheschool，andwith60L。savedhefacedtheworldoncemore。Therewasascholarshipofthevalueof40L。ayear，forthreeyears，attachedtooneoftheScotchUniversities，tobecompetedfor。HeknewtheLatinGrammar，andhad，withhelp，translatedoneofthebooksofCaesar。OfGreekheknewnothing，savethelettersandthefirstdeclensionofnouns；butinMayhebegantoreadinearnestatafarmhouse。Heworkedeverydayfrom6A。M。to12P。M。withonlyanhour’sintermission。HestudiedthesixLatinandtwoGreekbooksprescribed；hedidsomeLatincompositionunaided；brusheduphismathematics；andlearntsomethingofthehistoryofGreeceandRome。InOctober，afterfivemonthsofhardwork，heunderwentanexaminationforthescholarship，andobtainedit；beatinghisopponentbytwenty-eightmarksinathousand。HethenwentuptotheScotchUniversityandpassedalltheexaminationsforhisordinaryM。A。
　　degreeintwoyearsandahalf。OnhisfirstarrivalattheUniversityhefoundthathecouldnotsleep；buthewearilyyetvictoriouslyploddedon；tookaprizeinGreek，thenthefirstprizeinphilosophy，thesecondprizeinlogic，themedalinEnglishliterature，andafewotherprizes。
　　“Hehad40L。whenhefirstarrivedinScotland；andhecarriedawaywithhimasimilarsumtoGermany，whitherhewenttostudyforhonoursinphilosophy。Hereturnedhomewithlittleinhispocket，borrowingmoneytogotoScotland，wherehesatforhonoursandforthescholarship。Hegothisfirsthonours，andwhatwasmoreimportantatthetime，moneytogoonwith。Henowlivesonthescholarshipwhichhetookatthattime；isanassistantprofessor；and，inafortnight，willbeginacourseoflecturesforladiesinconnectionwithhisuniversity。Writingtomeafewdaysago，[13]hesays，’Myhealth，brokendownwithmylaststruggle，isquiterestored，andIlivewiththehopeofworkingon。Manyhaveworkedmoreconstantly，butfewhaveworkedmoreintensely。Ifoundkindnessoneveryhandalways，buthadIfailedinasingleinstanceIshouldhavemetwithentirebankruptcy。Thefailurewouldhavebeenruinous……I
　　thankGodforthestruggle，butwouldnotliketoseeadogtryitagain。TherearedrovesofladsinWalesthatwouldcreepupbuttheycannot。Povertyhastooheavyahandforthem。’“
　　ThegentlemanwhosebriefhistoryisthussummarilygivenbyMr。
　　Davies，isnowwellknownasaprofessorofphilosophy；and，ifhishealthbespared，hewillbecomestillbetterknown。Heistheauthorofseveralimportantworkson’MoralPhilosophy，’
　　publishedbyaleadingLondonfirm；andmoreworksareannouncedfromhispen。Thevictoriousstruggleforknowledgewhichwehaverecountedmightpossiblybeequalled，butitcouldnotpossiblybesurpassed。Thereare，however，asMr。DaviesrelatedtotheParliamentaryCommittee，manyinstancesofWelshstudents——mostofthemoriginallyquarrymen——whokeepthemselvesatschoolbymeansofthesavingseffectedfrommanuallabour，“infrequentcasesekedoutandhelpedbythekindnessoffriendsandneighbours，“whostruggleupthroughmanydifficulties，andeventuallyachievesuccessinthebestsenseoftheterm。“Oneyoungman“——astheteacherofagrammar-school，withintwomilesofBangor，relatedtoMr。Davies——“whocametomefromthequarrysometimeago，wasagoldmedallistatEdinburghlastwinter；“andcontributionsarereadilymadebythequarrymentohelpforwardanyyoungmanwhodisplaysanearnestdesireforknowledgeinscienceandliterature。
　　ItisaremarkablefactthatthequarrymenofCarnarvonshirehavevoluntarilycontributedlargesumsofmoneytowardstheestablishmentoftheUniversityCollegeinNorthWales——thequarrydistrictsinthatcountyhavingcontributedtothatfund，inthecourseofthreeyears，mostlyinhalf-crownsubscriptions，notlessthan508L。4s。4d——“afact，“saysMr。Davies，“withoutitsparallelinthehistoryoftheeducationofanycountry；“themoststrikingfeaturebeing，thatthesecollectionsweremadeinsupportofaninstitutionfromwhichthequarrymencouldonlyveryremotelyderiveanybenefit。
　　WhileIwasatBangor，onthe24thofAugust，1883，thenewsarrivedthattheCommitteeofSelectionhaddeterminedthatBangorshouldbethesitefortheintendedNorthWalesUniversityCollege。Thenewsrapidlyspread，andgreatrejoicingsprevailedthroughouttheborough，whichhadjustbeenincorporated。Thevolunteerbandplayedthroughthestreets；thechurchbellsrangmerrypeals；andgayflagsweredisplayedfromnearlyeverywindow。ThereneverwassuchatriumphantdisplaybeforeinthecauseofUniversityeducation。