Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-30
MATHEW ARNOLDS OPIN-
IONS.
Afraid ihai American Audiences
Will Not Appreciate Him
Oscar Wilde n Goose.

Mrs. Arnold answered 4 kaock at the
door Of their apartments at the Wind
sor Hotel, New York, and announced
reporter. As the reporter entered
Mr.. Arnold rose With 4 genial smile
met him ID the middle OF the parlor,
aud invited him to the most comfort
able chair in the room. Il was Just
thinking, " said Mr.. Arnold, "how my
lecture on education will be likely to
take with New York audience |
can't get over the idea that lecture
on the subject will be great bore to
the average America. Having lived
the greater part Of my life among the
schools, begin 10 fancy the other
people may not regrrd the matter OF
education as OF such vast Importance.
What do you think? When we speak
Of the American people on
the other side we are
apt to picture in our minds a nation
bent almost entirely upon making
money. This may be a great mistake,
and hope it is. Then | am little
anxious about the effect Of my Eng
lish brogue and accent. They say
that Mr.. Froud's brogue was against
him when he was here You know, |
am not much used to lecturing, aud,
although | am convinced that what |
have TO say will be all right, am a
little anxious about the way OF speak.
ing it, and yet some very intelligent
New Workers have assured me that
my pronunciation is not so broad as
to be at all offensive or distAsteful,
aud that the majority Of educated
people here rather like to hear some
Of our mep talk, such, for example, as
the Lord Chief Justice, who lately
addressed a most intelligent and cul
tiyated audience at the Academy Of
Music. "
While Mr. Arnold was speaking
these words the reporter was looking
out for mistakes according to the
American standard. He observed
that the distinguished English Liberal
pronounced lecture" as "leetyah,n
and bore" as "borr," "other" and
matter" accordingly as "othah"
and "msttar" But such words as
average and cant" were not abom.
mated into "ayahwedge" and "cawn't"
and so the reporter assured him that
he would pass. As to whether the
American people take any interest iu
matters pertaining to education, tho
reporter BEGGED leave to refer him 10
the public schools Of New York and
Boston, and to the census for the
number Of colleges in the United
States.
81 have three lectures prepared for
delivery 10 this country" said Mr.
Arnold. THE subjects are 'Eduea
ton, Science aud Numbers. What
does numbers refer to2 Well, not to
the Numbers yof the Bible, but TO
numbers as referring to population
and government. Ishall begin inNew
York, then 90 to Boston, and from
there shall lecture in different cities
throughout the country, following the
course laid out BY D'0yley Carte. L
shall be 10 the country about four
months, which, | think, will afford
me a good opportunity to study the
people and their institutions. | may
lecture on Emerson and compare him
with Carlyle, but | may not be able to
get sufficient time to collect nv
thoughts and put them on paper. You
know | am little slow and easy 20
ing, and yet, in passing through the
country, still other subjects may i'm
press one with q desire to speak on
them. Iwant to see to what degree
your people have got out Of the
narrow minded ideas of the Puri-
tans. | also expect to see some OF
the old fashioned Quskers and native
Indians.
What is the mostlivequestiou per
tanning to education 10 England at tie
present day?p
Probably the question Of abandon
ing to some extent the study Of the
CLASSICS and letters IN general, and civ
ing more attention 70 the natural
sciences. How vel this vii Eaeesed |
eannet tel l. hls been Pretty tEar-
Oughly tris1 Ia sGEa &c eur eslleass
and almdsr snarslT girsn -. Ttsy
lave returned 30 .stiers EEzir. ta1 tie
rsassiou sssna % shrsase- 70 sarry
t1ez 20 TIE cshs- sIlrEzE
Speaking e. E1Eiis1 ar. o. xtheti.
slsll, ~ fspEsss1tsd b. Oscar Wide.
Mr. Arusli sid Poor fellow. |
ezcrat help feeling sorry foT biz.
he vas a kiad Of gooss, you know.
AID yet be Is = very clever fellow
Bat be hts % solid reputation il RuR-
lad. 10 English arr he was kind Of
-
-MashrOOn,g suggested The re-
porter.
We'll, yes. Bat I would rather
JOE would not sag that | said be vas
9 COOS. Oscar . . clever fellow, and
I'm afraid be feels sore over bis lat
venture ii this country. Carried away
q good deal Of money for BALM
Well, not near 20 much. Twenty-Five
thousand dollars? Let's see: how
much is that 10 p0undsg Yes, 5000
Oh, dear, no. he didn't make sny.
thing like that amount. | know Il
positively. Il was but a small fraction
Of that sum-"
"Laboueherel Yes, Labouchere
de g a sensational sort Of a man, and
enjoys merry mischief MAKING. | don't
think he carries very much weight
He ISLANDERS and abuses people. and
then laughs 10 see them squirm. To
Mr. Labouchere this is exceedingly
amusing
"Ah, yes. the House Of Lords-tbe
second House. The question as 10 lis
uses IL our government is open for
discussion, or, at any rate, will be 10
time. II is certain TO come. but the
time is not quite ripe for il yet. Al
present any sllusion 70 il 10 the Lords
is pooh. pOohed."