Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-29
EnrIand,s Great Critic.

The other day. when a small homely
man Of a sad. thoughtful look, with NUT
tou-chop whiskers and hair parted IN the
middle. stepped of steamer IN Ne"
York. the casual observer did not even
give the stranger passing thought.
There was no pOmpOsity, no apparent
indication Of greatness, yet TINS Was one
Of England's great men,
Matthew Arnold has become known u
the cultured men and women oil America
NV his writings. and has attained an III
t,,en.a in the literary world second To no
ono NJ the century. As critic the breadth
NJ his views. his fairness and honesty
have given him a position Of great IN
auence. and even when he published
sharp castigatiOn Of American society
wear OF two ago, while il provoked some
adverse feeling at first on more mature
consideration his article was considered
inst and without malice. and failed to pro
woke any lasting hostility
Though 80 well known as writer, his
early career and personal history nave
been involved IN comparative obscurlt!'
He was born in 1924 AT L1leham, ana was
the eldest of nine. children. His father
was DR.. Thomas Arnold. the schoolmasier'
who was also poet. and man oi hne
literary tastes. His education was care
fully looked 90. and after preparation both
al Rugby and I.aleham, ne entered Baltol
COLLEGE. oxford. in 1910. In 1S43 he Won
the Newdi-ate prize for English verse,
with a poem entitled Cromwell which
WIS considered a creditahle production.
though nothing very extraordinary. lie
..raduated i'm 1874. and in 1877 became
private secretary 70 the Marquis Of Lans-
downe. This position gave him thorough
insight 10 political and diplomatic life.
He was married i'm 1851. and was appoint
. cd soon after As one Of the lay inspectors
10 schools.
His first literary production, the STRAY
ed Observer and Other Poems,' was pub
lished about this time. Though abound
iug i'm beauty and characteristics 81 ge-
MUS. il attracted little attention. He
+ tried tragedy. but was not successful in
this field. and in 1~59 published selec-
tion II what was best from all his poems.
F This. together with his election 10 the
. chair Of Professor Of Poetry at Oxford eX-
tended his influence and fame. He now
gave the world his collection Of 'Essays
f on Criticism" His next work was culture
and Anarchy" and IL created somewhat
I II a sensation. and was much discussed
/ He next entered the religious field. and IN
st. Paul and Professionalism" urged a
I more liberal and consistent Interpretation
/ Of religious doctrines. Next he published
/ Literature and Dogma" which provoked
/ severe criticism from the chuTchmen, and
was defended in his next production,
/ God and the Bible" Among his other
works were Last ESSAYS on Church and
/ Religion" Mixed Essays" and Irish
/ ESSAYS" He has also written many in
/ Productions. His literary productions are
/ all marked by wealth Of thought, and his
criticisms original, forcible and just. He
3 well deserves honor at the hands OF Amer
lean scholars; and on his return to Eng
land we may look for another and proba-
/ blv more mature criticism of American
manners and life.
( Mr.. Anold's visit to this country is not
wholly prompted by desire to take an
other aesthetic and critical survey of our
political and social affairs. He will also
enter on a lecturing tour which, it is to be
hoped. Will not only give the cultured
| people Of America outside of strictly lite
/ rary circles an opportunity to see and
hear England's ablest critic, but will ena-
bic him to return to England with sub
stantiaI tokens Of the Offering America
makes 10 genius. in whatever quarter Of
/ the globe it may originate.