The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-17
DEATH or MATTHEW ARNOLD.

oil this country had brought MN SO lihine-
diatcly before the English.spoaking people
as still force in their literature and civili-
zaiion that death was not 10 be thought OF
in connection with him. What he
said in that paper, though open to the just
objections that were made by Tue APrEAL
us well IN other newspapers, was full OF
his peculiar characteristics aud tricks Of
phraseology, and was poryadcd by the
spirit TINT sometimes took onya captious
tinge. II was not altogether US uniriendly
ms the telegraph made us believe, and
where II was unjust Il was as much so to
the critic as to the criticised. Recalling II
now Il is almost impossible TO realize that
the hand and brain that produced Il arc
stilled forever, that tho fine faculty Of PEN
etraiion has gono like fame blown out
and that cannot be reproduced. Death,
appalling at any timo and In any guise, is
never more 80 than when without summons
or sign he takes in mid career aman whose
panopoly OF genius, OF knowledge Of hui
manty, OF history, OF the tendency and
drit Of things, and Of supreme gin Of
analysis, had elevated him TO the highest
place among his contemporaries In litcra-
tue. Without q word Of warning, in a
moment. In tho twinklng OF an eye, the
heart was stillcd and the mind, built up
with Infinite pains by education and ex-
panded by infinite pains In experience,
Is swept out Of existence, and is now and
hereafter 10 DO but memory, strong and
tangible In proportion as his works arc
TO prove strong and tangible by the severe
test OF time, growing scycrer rs our litca.
turo is enriched by other aud perhaps
greater minds, the representatives Of all
precedent circumstances in civilization.
II is difficult To realize that voice 80 po-
tent is hushed; that its last word has been
spoken, and that It will never again be
heard In controversy even for purposes OF
good. IL Is an awful shock, not only be-
cause OF It's suddnoss, but because II Is an
utter and entire loas OF great riches
In intellectual equipment that cannot
be replaced. Children will be born into
the world 10 climb 10y tho same processes
Of painful effort 10 nights as sublime ~
any Mr.. Arnold reached in the slippery
and sorcly bcsct paths Of language and Of
thought, but his ripcness and tho posi-.
biliucs Of Il cannot be replaced. II is a
wealth lost This IL Is TINT brings TO
thinking men the soreness Of death and
i,s nearncss. Where yesterday there was
n man TO whom the world looked an 10 a
master, waiting ON his words and
ircighting them with new meanings
US humor or prejudice indiicd, today
there Is nothing. But yesterday there was
the critic who In theology, In politics, In
sociology aud In literature was among IN,
nru,, the man who whatever his PECULIAR
ties, whatever the infriniiics that wcr
, the result Of environment, was a terror &
a al sl,Ans, and who did what was posibl,
y 10 . careful investigator who know 81 al
|. the methods OF education, 10 broader
A the way by which tho men AM
n. women Of Great Britain and Irclan
, are 10 he pcrparcd aud equipped 60
the battle Of life. Matthew Amol
was ycri,allc schoolmaslcr. The super
IS genius Of bis father, the Master Of Rugby
: was made manifest In him ~ he roamc
y over the wide field Of the world where h
: garnercd all the choice things ani Guile
= the bee, that might. could or should b
: adapted 10 the British educational system
Perhaps his most useful work was done !
y this field. but that by which he viii be n
Q mcmbcrcd. because Il Is that b
= which ho In best known. win DO h
" crsays. They arc Of this age, bod
forth the time. aud mus, always 1
A. useful 10 future historians. Ills pocu
y will have their day. some u them have n
y. ncady had H. Hut his criticisms wi
n. stand, no, because they are always Ius
~ bu, because they arr, especially where I,
lc own great country Is concerned, NJ near
Of Jus, as the human inicllcct barnaclcd
"A ever 80 limited an extent with the irailii,
,r Of prejudice can encompass. Mr. AnoI
IN viii be greatly missed. There Is no or
.. in England TO ~ into his place. There
NO one equal 10 him In Independence
. thought and strength Of language, no OF
n 70 direct, no ono Who can assume o. mus
g. Of certainty, no one with such strength
p. authority nom a great and widening col
@. sliIuoncy Who mover iallsl 10 rccogni
=, che consclcnilousncss and high rsolutio
9. Of a lofty integrity oven when the wor
ut CAPPED most. A great ligh, has gone o.
Dn from English literature, aud goycrnil
ok aud controlling mind.