WILLIAM
WALLACETHE late editor of the Glasgow Herald is a native of the little old-world town of Culross on the Forth, and was born 17th November, 1843. His forbears belonged to the old weaving community in Fife, and his father, who bore the family name of Jasper - Norman in origin, like Wallace itself - was a man of strong character, noted in the little community as a churchman, a ruling elder, and a temperance advocate who believed, not in force, but in moral suasion. His occupation was that of a master-gardener, and in the employment of an aunt of the Earl of Rosslyn of that time he planted an avenue at Culross which still attests his handiwork. Jasper Wallace was very fair of complexion, and his wife was very dark, and so perhaps it came about that while their eldest son was exceedingly dark, their youngest was exceedingly fair. Of their family of five sons the eldest was the late Dr. Robert Wallace, remarkable for the brilliance with which he filled so many roles - clergyman, barrister, editor, and member of parliament. The second son, John, died minister of New Deer. Two boys died in childhood; and the youngest and only surviving member of the family is Dr. William Wallace of the Glasgow Herald.
Dr. Wallace received his early education at the Geddes Institution at Culross, where his teacher, John Christie, was a man of great energy and character, and where he distinguished himself by becoming dux of the school. For four years he underwent the training of a pupil-teacher, then, migrating to Aberdeen, continued his studies at the Grammar School and University there, taking prizes in several classes, and graduating M.A. He began the active business of life as a teacher of classics in Ayr Academy, and there at the same time, without premeditation, began an intimate acquaintance with the haunts of Burns which was to prove of value at a later date. This acquaintance he continued later, when he removed to Edinburgh, and entered upon his journalistic career as assistant-editor of the now defunct Edinburgh Courant. And he again followed the migrations of Burns when two years afterwards he accepted the editorship of the Dumfries Herald, and took up residence in the southern town.
Meanwhile he had been contributing articles to periodicals in all directions, particularly to Fraser's Magazine. This journal was then under the editorship of Mr. Froude, and Dr. Wallace long preserved some characteristic letters from the biographer of Carlyle. Among other correspondence of the same period he has also a notable letter from the late Dr. Norman Macleod, replying to certain strictures in the Westminster Review which made some talk at the time.
After several years at Dumfries he removed to London, and, while writing on the staffs of the Echo and various other papers, took the opportunity of qualifying for the Bar. At that time he wrote a good deal in the Spectator, then under the editorship of R. H. Hutton and Meredith Townsend. The work of these men he has always regarded as belonging to the highest order of journalism. His own work on the paper consisted chiefly of special articles on Scottish subjects, and he also took a particular interest in church questions.
While in London he formed a connection with the Glasgow Herald, and in 1888 he came to Glasgow to take up the position of assistant-editor. In this position his articles on current literary topics have done much to direct the taste of the West of Scotland during recent years. On Dr. Russell's retiral from the chair of the Herald in September, 1906, Dr. Wallace became editor, and he held the position till July, 1909, when, on account of his health, he found it advisable to retire. In church matters he has always been on the side of greater freedom and of creed reform. He also takes a deep interest in educational affairs, believing that the Scottish universities are in urgent need of reorganisation and greater endowment. The Carnegie gift, he holds, has only supplied the latter need in part. Education in Scotland altogether, he holds, is not nearly well enough endowed.
Apart from his journalistic work Dr. Wallace has been responsible for several literary productions. He was a considerable contributor to the latest edition of Chambers' "Encyclopaedia," and he wrote for Chambers' "Cyclopaedia of Literature" the articles on Burns and Carlyle. Also, among his independent works, "Scotland Yesterday" appeared in 1891; he edited the correspondence of Burns and Mrs. Dunlop in 1898, and, most important of all, he produced in 1892 the new revised and re-written edition of Chambers' "Life and Works of Robert Burns," a standard undertaking to which his close personal knowledge lent a special and unique value. After the issue of this last-named work Glasgow University conferred on him the honour of its LL.D degree. Among the subjects regarding which his energy and enthusiasm have been of conspicuous service was the preservation of Ayr Auld Brig. The raising of the £10,000 required for this purpose was largely owed to his skilful and persistent advocacy. He has since taken up the proposal for the founding of a Chair of Scottish History and Literature in Glasgow University.
Golf and excursions on foot form his chief recreations, and he has extended his pilgrimages through Switzerland, Holland, and France. He has a strong liking for the French people, and considers their literature the most vital of the present day. Possessing the saving grace of humour, of a gently sub-acid sort, he has a place of his own in the social side of Glasgow's intellectual life. A great novel-reader, he sets Scott first and Dickens next, and while he places Hardy above Meredith, can muster no enthusiasm for the writings of Stevenson. Five years ago he read all Scott's novels again, and believes this tonic pulled him through. Among moderns he believes the first Scots novelist to be Gait, with George Douglas Brown next, and Barrie third, while Mrs. Oliphant he takes to be the Anthony Trollope of Scotland. In 1869 Dr. Wallace married Rebecca, daughter of Mr. Peter White, Edinburgh. His elder son is a D.Sc. of St. Andrews, and is engaged on the International Fisheries Survey at Lowestoft. He has a younger son at the University, and a daughter married to Mr. David Hodge, the well-known journalist.