Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-19
Life in America"

Matthew Arnold lectured recently
In the Mechanics Institute, Bradford
on Life in America" Speaking gen
orally of America, he said it was moi
as comfortable as England for those
with incomes anywhere from $500 or
t4O0 TO Fl, 400 or FL, 500 a year. for in
England the possession by man Of
such sum enabled him to have so
many of the conveniences of far richer
people. For his benefit, above all.
clubs were organized and hanson
cabs piled.
But in America all luxuries were
dear-except oysters and ice-clubs
were expensive, and man who in
England could hire cab would there
have to use the cars. The humber
kind Of work in America was better
paid, and the higher class worse paid.
than in England. The public ways in
the United States were abominablv cut
up by rails and blocked by horse cars.
The Inconvenience, however, was for
those who used carriages.
Mr.. Arnold expressed his adnira-
ton for the great equality which exists
in American society, and alluded par
ticularly to the lack in the United
States of anything like the spirit which
in his country prompts the use of the
word squire and TO the free and hap
Ply state of the American women.
He was strong in his condemnation
of the American idea of the beautiful
and interesting, and especially spoke
against the funny man, whom he call
ed national misfortune" and the
American press. With few excep-
tions, the United States newspapers
came in for more condemnation than
any other institution of which he spoke,
and he remarked that when one re-
turned home after being obliged to
read them, one was moved to admira-
ton for the worth and integrity of
the English press.
Mr.. Arnold, with view of support
ing his arguments on this point, read
extracts, one of them which appeared
in Chicago paper, being a descrip-
ton of himself, as follows: He has
harsh features, has a supercilious APP
pearance, parts his hair down the
middle, and wears ill-ftting Clothes"
Another item, under the head Tick
ings," by which was meant news re-
ceived by telegraph, was to the follow.
ing effect: Matthew Arnold is sixty
two" The information respecting his
age did not happen to be correct,
whatever that with regard to his APP
pearance was. and of that his hearers
could judge for themselves.
Mr.. Arnold dwelt at some length on
what he called the tall talk and self
glOrifcatiOn" of the Americans, and
laid great stress on the fact that they
utterly refused to see their own short
cOmings. In what concerned their
material life, he said, they saw straight;
but in what concerned the higher
civilization they lived in a fools para
disc. There was little to cherish and
delight the sense of beauty in Ameri-
can civilization. There was very little
10 cr eate such an effect, and very much
to thWart it.
"And so I say" he added, THAT in
America he who requires from what
surrounds him satisfaction for his
sense for beauty and elevation will
feel the sky over his head to be of
brass and iron" Summing up his re-
marks, Mr.. Arnold said that what
really caused dissatisfaction in Ameri-
can civilization was the want of the in.
teresting and that want was pro-
longed by the Americans being as
sured that they had the elements of
beauty and distinction when they had
them not. 1t seemed to him that what
the Americans now required was
steady exhibition of cold and sane
criticisms by their men of light and
leading of their faults, and one of the
first things they ought to do should be
to create better newspapers. In con-
he said that the future of the
United States was of incaIculable in
terest TO the English, who had a good
deal to learn from the Americans.