, 1888-05-23
THE DEATH OF MR.. MATTHEW
}iA ARNOLD.

We announce this morning, with a stu
cere regret which will be shared by all
students of English literature, the death
of Mr.. Matthew Arnold. A most accom-
plished gentleman, a very pleasing poet,
and a deeply interpretive critic has thus
been lost to his generation; but only III a
persona. sense, for his pen has left much
that will survive giim, and at sixty seven
years of age the slarger part of u mans
lifework is NATURALLY finished. death
came suddenly to this distinguished man
the hereditary death of his family-tor
both his father, DR.. Arnold, of Rugby,
and his grandfather succumbed to the
same malady, and everybody must remem-
Der the touching particulars which Dean
Stanley gave, in his Life, of the approach
of the last agony at Fox Howe, and of the
dire sutferingS borne by the famous Head
Master. Mr.. Matthew Arnold, his eldest
son, happily endured no similar bodily trial
in his manner of departure. He was
known to have weakness OF the heart, and
had been warned by his physician to avoid
fatigue and excitement in consequence of
it. He was, however, apparently III eX.
Cellent health and spirits on Saturday last,
when he arrived at Liverpool, hay ing jour,
neyed thither to meet his daughter, who
was coming over from America III the
steamer Aurania. Mr.. Arnold was Il guest
at the house of his married sister, Mrs. Crop
per, while awaiting the arrival OF the
vessel which was due to enter the MrrSeY
on Sunday afternoon. On Sunday morn
ing he attended service at the PreSOy-
terrain Church in Seton Park, and at
luncheon was aS cheerful and viva
CiOuS AZ those who knew him well
were ever accustomed to find him.
After luncheon, be walked out with his
hostess, but had not proceeded far before
he suddenly fell upon his face, aud never
spoke again. Life appears to have become
extinct before he medical practitioner into
whose house he was borne could examine
his distinguished patient. 1t is reported,
as if perhaps directly connected with this
abrupt extinction Of life, that, on the
evening before, Mr.. AlnoId had jumped IL
low railing near his SjS&pr'S house in sheer
gliety OF spirit, and that the unw0nted
eXertjOn had fatally told upon the cardia-
cal weakness. We Should doubt the truth Of
this, for no i'll effects followed ut the time,
and Mr.. Arnold was perfectly well, to all
appearance, when he went the next day
To Divine service. There must rather have
occurred a sudden rupture of some valve,
or great artery; and, mouTntul as 1t Is to
reflect upon the distress of the household,
and upon the grief reserved for the dhlglI-
ter upon her landing from America, we
have, at least, the consolation of believ-
ing that the esteemed poet AMI critic died
by as swift and painless Il form of death as
mortal man can we'll hope to undergo.
The heart which beat with so many noble
emotions and lofty thoughts had not badly
served him in maintaining It's marvellous
work through a span of years closely APP
procling the Scriptural limit Of our natu-
raj existence. 1t is a sad shock, natural.
~, to his relatives and friends, and Il
distinct blank is suddenly left in the roll
of Victorian writer's; but he had been
known to wish for an end as brief aud free
from moral and physical distress, nor have
we now to add to the pain of the thought
that he will no more be seen amongst
us, the sadness of hearing of paugs which
shake the strongest spirit, and of .'the
hard coming of Fate."-Ibid.