The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-09
THE VISIT OF TEoMAs HUgHEs.

THE VISIT or THOMAS HUGHES.
OK the I'd of August Mr.. Thomas Hughes will
sail from Southampton in the Bremen steamer
Donau for the United States, with the inten
ton of remaining about three months in this
country. He is almost as we'll known on this
side of the Atlantic as on the other, by name at
least and there is no living Englishman who
could merit or receive hearter welcome from
the American people In view of his contem-
plated visit blief sketch of his life will not be
without interest.
Mr.. Hughes is the second son OF John Hughes,
ESQ.,, of Donington Priory, near Newbury, in
the county of Berks, where he was born on the
Goth of October, 1928. In one of mis- books,
"The Securing of the White Horse, he has de-
scribed in an attractive manner the scenes of
his early life in the nelgbborhood of his birth
place. At the customary age he became n stu
dent at Rugby, where the celebrated DR.. Arnold
was then head master, and from there he went
to Oriel College, Oxford, from which he gradu
ated as B. A. in 1S45. While at Rugby and Ok
ford Mr.. Hughes entered with wonderful zeal
into all the muscular sports which character
lied both places and became rather more
distinguished for his proficiency with the oar
than for his requirements of intellectual
nature. He early became n convert to Charles
Kingsley's school of muscular Christianity"
anu III MS TWO celcOraueu DOCKS SnOWeu llmSeI
to be its foremost disciple. Gifted with more
than ordinary mental powers, aud possessed of
q frank, manly, and generous disposition, as is
manifested in his writings it was natural that
he should become a great favorite in bis school
and college days-in short, Just such a young
man as he has taken for the hero of his books
on school and college life.
After graduating. he entered at Lincoln's Inn
as a student at law, and in January, 1S4S, was
called to the bar. In his profession of bar
rster he has achieved a fair reputation and ac-
quired fair practice although he has not risen,
nor perhaps been ambitious to rise, to the higher
ranks of his calling. In the autumn of 1856 he
published his admirable picture of school life
entitled "Tom Browns School Days at Rugby"
certainly the most readable book of the kind
ever written, book that possesses as much of
q charm for the old as for the young. 1t has be-
come popular wherever the English language is
read and spoken, and has probably had larger
circulation in this country than in England
In 1858 he published THE Securing of
the White Horse work which
never attained anything like the popularity OF
its predecessor. Perceiving this, he, in 1861
recurred to the subject which had made his
fame and fortune, and published "Tom Brown
at Oxford, book characterized by almost as
first venture, and destined to achieve a popu.
larlty almost great and lasting In addition
to these works, he has written several tracts
frequently contributed to the leading re-
views and papers, and prepared preiaces for the
English editions Of Professor Lowell's ''Biglow
Papers" and Whittier's poems.
Mr.. Hughes has also taken an active part in
politics for several years past. During the pro-
gress of the civil war in this country, he proved
himself to be one of the most earnest, sincere
and effective friends of the United States in all
England, and was ready on all occasions to deal
hard and telling blow against the upholders of
rebellion and their sympathisers. All his
| political associations have been of the most
radical sort, but his radicalism has ever been
tempered with a sound discretion and an
honest respect for those of opposite views. In
1865 he was elected one of the members of the
British House of Commons for the borough of
Lambeth, but at the election for the present
| Parliament, in 1868, through some differences
with his constituents he was obliged to seek
another seat, and was returned in that year as
member for Frome. in Wiltshire. Gin personal
appearance" said an English journal some
months ago. ''Mr. Hughes is a simple, frank,
honest-looking gentleman, his full face and
| finely cut features set off by light fringe of
ruddy whiskers, and lit up by a pair of singu-
larly keen, bright grey eyes, in which lurking
| imp of humor forever Dances" His wide repu-
tation as writer, and his many kindly services
to the cause of the Union will render his arrival
in the United States the signal for an outspoken,
generous, and unstinted welcome.