San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-23
TheDepartedC Critic
MATTHEW ARNOLD.
RECENTLY DECEASED.
The death of Matthew Arnold, at

The death of Matthew Arnold, at
Liverpool, calls to mind his close asso-
citation with this country, where his
writings are generally admired. His
business at the seaport town was to see
his son Richard, who, with his wife and
sister, the latter being resident Of New
York, were passengers on the steamer
about to arrive from the American city.
Mr.. Arnold visited this country in 1888
and again in 1856. He was honored as
few men are honored, wherever he
went, and he travelled extensively as a
lecturer.
Matthew Arnold was the eldest son
Of the late DR.. Arnold, of Rugby, Eng
land, and was born In the town on the
Oath Of December, 1922. He received a
thorough education at Winchester and
Rugby, and wrote some very clever
verses while at school. When eighteen
years OF age he was elected scholar Of
Ballot College, Oxford, and four years
later was awarded the Newdigate prize.
In 1916, he became fellow Of Oriel Col
lege, and in 1S47 was appointed private
secretary to the Lord of Lansdowne. His
first poem, 1.-THE Strayed Reveller, !"
appeared In 1S4S and excited very favor
able criticisms. He was appointed one
Of her majesty's inspectors OF British
schools in 1851, and although the duties
OF the position were rather arduous, his
pen was not idle while he retained it. A
number OF his best poems were written
about this time, and shortly after he as.
sumed the chair Of poetry at Oxford in
1857, MerOpe, q tragedy modelled after
the Grecian drama, made its appear
ance. In $4,000 he visited the CONT
nent In the interest OF his government as
an assistant Of the commissioners ap-
pointed to inquire into the educational
affairs OF France, Holland and Germany,
and returning in 1861 he published re-
port OF his inquiries. He was sent on
similar mission to the continent in 1865,
when he made diligent study of the
methods of secondary education prsctio-
ed in several European countries.
The problems Of education, politics
and religion engrossed the greatest part
of his attention during the later years of
his life. His most celebrated lectures
were on "Translating Homer" written
in 1851; IA French Elton or Middle Glass
Education AID the State" in 1864; The
'S0hools and Universities of the Cont
nent," in 1868; and Higher Schools and
Universities in Germany" in 1874. He
wrote many admirable essays, the best
Of which are: Essays on Criticism"
which appeared in 1865; Culture and
Anarchy" in 1869; "St. Paul and Pro-
testantism," in 1870; and Literature
and Dogma" in 1872, the most cele-
brated of all, in which he subjected
some of the dogmas of religion to free
criticism. In 1879 he published volume
entitled mixed Essays" Irish Es-
says" appeared In 1882. AS a poet Mr..
Arnold displayed cultivated taste and
imagination.
Mr.. Arnold received the honorary de-
gree of doctor of laws from Edinburgh
In 1863, from Oxford in 1870, and from
Cambridge in 1888, and in 1871 the
king of Italy conferred upon him the
order of commander of the crown OF
Italy for his care of the duke of Genoa
during his studies in England. In 1886
Mr.. Arnold spent some time in contin-
entail Europe in studies on behalf of the
educational department OF the English
government, thus renewing activities
which had given him distinction earlier
in life. He published in the last
number Of the Nineteeth Century an ar
tiole on "Civilization 10 the United
states" which has been the theme of
much comm ent in American journals.