New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-31
MIR. ARNOLD's FIRST LECTURE
A MASTERY DISCOURSE ON NUMBERS"
TIE ENGLISH EssAYIsT GREETED BY LAfuE
AUDIENCE IN CHTCKERING HALL

The large and brilliant audience that assemoieu
IN Cbiclerinr Hail last night TO hear Matthew
Amod's lecture on Numbers" must have Deeh
moved Inv some stronger feeling than curiosity.
Notwithstanding strong counter-attractlons else-
where, which had Occasioned no little msglYihg 10
the lecturer the hall was filled to Overlooking oy
a representative audience. Men OF note IN ntera-
ture science art and statecraft were present ven
erobIo wbite-baired divines representing many
phases Of belief, and some well-known champions
of agnosticsm The ladies' who have always been
warm friends of Mr.. Arnold, came out in force.
Before the lecture the conversation In the
hall was directed to Mr.. Arnold's books
esneciallv HIS poems, which were by some
soveraIv criticised but more frequently
proised well-known clergyman was heard 70
saw: "What | admire in Arnold is n heaithy
trutlfulness that never beats about the bush, Du'
speaks ont right. He sets men thinking ana IN
few terse words gives you enough to THINK ABOUT
for a month" Although the audience seemed 10
baveno conception Of what they were going 10
bear-one lady even hazarding the oplh.
ion that it was about the BOOK VI
Numbers-yet they seemed well ass'reu
that they would be well entertained. The nan was
entirely full large numbers standing uiarc,ns
over the audience, ono felt some DOUBT as 70
tho Iecturor would be we'll heard. Mr.. Arnold
England. Accustomed to tho small college
lecture. room. where his brilliant disconrses were
almost COLONIAL or to the hall of the Royal lnSti-
tuton equally small he has never been required TO
make great efforts to be heard. This style of speak
ing too bcgets mOnotonOus delivery, especially
when the lecture is not eXtcmpore
When Mr. Arnold stepped on the platform In COM
pany with Parke Goodwin, n certain tlm'dity oi
manner was obvious. He has been much exercised
all the last week to how the public would receive
his criticisms. being determined TO speak frankly
The audience greeted him with loud applause Mr.
Arnold wore ordinary evening dress. 10 those I'M
familiar with his portraits, his appearance bctohenS
ANYTHING but the traditional savant. ho Is 'al
wel-formcd. with an air Of high breeding and re-
fmement but his face is not "sickllcd DER WIN Tue
pale cast of thought" 1t is plain, kindly lhoo
with old fashioned mutton-chop whiSkcrs, keen
gray eyes and flexible mouth. The chairman MI
Goodwin. paid warm tribute to Mr.. Arnold as a
critic. philosopher and "A poet as well as to Dr.
Thomas Arnold his father. saying that the School
master of Rigby enlarged his classroom till 1t com
priscd the whole Euglsl-spcaking race The lectu-
rcr then came forward. He read his lecture.
SLIGHT shorsightcdnc-s compelled him to hold the
manuscript close to his eyes, and the light ut the
desk was such that few could read by IT easily
feeling Of disappointment came over the audience
when they discovered that Nh hrnold's voice was
scarcely audible half way down the hall; more
especially as they could perceive that those who did
hear were highly grathcd. Mr.. Arnold hiyl" Is
acadcmical and though his cnunciation Is clear, lac
has the common defect of the English clergy among
whom he was cducatcd-thc habit of dropping his
y,jco at the close Of sentence which renders it
inaudbc 1t required the closest attention Of the
most fortunate listeners 10 hear all lac said while
those at the further end If the hall could scarcely
hear at all.
Among those In the audience were Chief Justice
D,Iy. General Grant, the Row Robert Collycr
General A. s. Webb. William Wood. the Rev. Dr.
Wilbur T. Watkins, ex Governor Hoffman. Colonel
and Mrs. William A. Pond. Clarence Cook. a. VI
jerks Mr. aud Mrs. A. ID. Chandler. the Rev. Dr.
Howard Crosby. the Rev. Dr. Edward Bfcchcr' the
Row Arthur Brooks Henry Bcrgh, the Rev. Henry
NJ Saunders. Professor Lyon. Mr. and Mrs Elliott
L. Shepard. Richard Watson Glider G. {. Buel, Mr.
and Mrs. c. 7. Chckering. c. i. Olney a. 7. Bur
bank Professor Ahnrcromhic l.. :. Jaiiray, John j.
Cisco. Charlie. r. Congdon. Harry Archer L!rutcn-
ant Daucnhowcr aud the Rev Dr. Henry NJ. II'd.
SALIENT POINTS or THE LECTURE
There is n characteristic saying Of DR.. John
SON Patrn,i,n Is the lat refuge % scoundre' The
-lying Ia cyncaluAny will call II hrualyot II has IN II
something OF plain rohu, and truth We do often
see men passing Themselves on patriots who are IN
truth scoundrcls; meet with talk and proceedings
LAYING claim patriotism which these gcntlemcns
last refuge may all Of agree 10 De delivered from
patriots aud patriotism Of this sort Short Of such there
Is undoubtedly. shrltcring itself under the nnne Of
Patriotism good deal self nattery and selfdclusion
which IL misrhirvou. "Talnp are what they are. and
the consequences OF them VIII be- what they will be" In
that striking sentence Of Bishop Buffers Is undoubtedly
the true and snlutary lesson for both individuals and
nations You will expect mcro say that things are
not ~ they are and that the onscqucncs of them Will
not be ~ they will be. | should make nothing OF Il;
should DO a too palpabe failure. But confess that
ehord be glad II In what I say here could engage
American patriotism on my side instead
Of rou-lng it against And happens that the par
amount thoughts which your great country IN my
mind are really and truly Of Kind 10 please. think amy
true American patriot. rather than 10 offend him.
The great scale Of things hero. the extent Of your
country your numbers tho astonishing rapldy Of your
increase strike the imagination and orr common topic
for admiring remark. Our great orator. Mr.. Bright is
never weary Of telling how many acre, Of land YOU
have at your di,po,ul how many bushels Of
grain you produce. how many millions you arc. how
many more millions you viii be presently, and what
capital thing this II for you. Now although 1t" not
always agree with Mr.. Brght. I fluid myself agreeing
with him hero think your numbers afford very real
and important, ground for satisfaction.
PLATO ASD ISAIAH.
Not that your great ntnbcrg indeed great numbers
Of men auy where likely o hc Hll good. 10
haze the majority good THE majority are hld.' says
one OF the wise Of Greece; but he Wa, q pagan.
Much to the same effect however g. the rnnu, sentence
Of the New Tc,tamcut Many are called, few chosen"
This appear hard saying; many are the cndcayor' 10
eludc IT, alternate IT. severity. But turn II you
WILL manipulate it e, YOU will. the fcN, a. Cardinal
Newman well says. can never mean the many. The
world being what n II, we must expect the aims and
doing. OF the majority of men 10 hc very family and this
I'm a numerous community les, than IN n small ono.
much certainly, think. conccdc To the pes
simi-ts.
sages aud saints apt 10 De Il T. true; apt to
take gloomy view Of the society In which they live, and
10 piogno-ticatc cvn oit But then Il must bc added
that their representations apt to turn out right
Platos account Of the most gifted and brilliant com