New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-11
MRS. HUMPHREY WARD.
HOW SHE LOOKS AND TALKS. AND HOW
ROBERT EI4SNEREp WAS WRITTEN.
rvrom An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRrBUsE.]

debate That she should do so in Dublin, under
circumstances which enabled many friends Amer
leans, few among them to hear her, Will not
sunrise Won so much when add that her father
is one of the best known figures in the learned
society Of the Irish capital, and is an undisputed
authority upon large number OF Important SUD-
iects. The esprit of the various literary insttu-
tions here finds vent in a club known as INC
Cosmopoitan It meets in the apartments of
Mr. C.. H. Oldham one of the leading Protestant
Home Rulers Dublin is one OF the most delight
full of insular cities. It's social life has all the
repose of learned leisure. Nobody among its
scholars is rich. Nearly every man of note IN
the higher institutions of learning is interesting,
clever and of more or less distinction in some
spncial pursuit The wit Of the Irish race which
is said to be declining among the middle class
Irish as schooling makes them too literal,
fourishes, not without flavor Of the conservatory,
perhaps, in the Cosmopolitan.
walk within an area of few acres in Dublin
will enable the visitor to see, as they perform
their round Of duties IN connection with the
schools, Edward Dowden, the Shakespearean
scholar: Professor Galbralth, DIR. Mahafly, the
author of various works on social life III Greece
and of the L" Art o. Conversation who is now IN
America Anthony Trail, the natural philosopher;
Thomas X. Abbott, the Hebrew scholar; DE-
Bobcrt Ball. the Astronomer Royal, and Samuel
Uoughton. of whom Darwin relates In one OF
the letters in the Life" that he told the Geological
Society in Dublin in 1859 that the speculation
of Darwin and Wallace would not be worth
notice if it had not the weight Of Lyel's name
supporting its promulg CATION. Professor llaughton
* Bourbon IN science as in many other things
Lord Dnfrerin is Chancellor of the Royal Uni
yersity. of which Thomas Arnold is lecturer on
Titar N
DR. Sigcrson the author of Irish Land Ienures'
and a volume Of admirable poems. lie IS also
a practising physician Of cminence, and an ardent
Nationalist One may find here any number OF
stories about Burke of Burke's Peerage,' which
was written in little room in this ancient town;
and many lovers of Archbishop Trench dellgho
in recalling the pleasant hours spent WIN tiit
charming man in the years when he was devotns
himself little TO preaching and great deal
TO pathological recreation.
Mrs. IIumphry Ward was n special guest OF the
COSMOPOLITAN Club the other night. She was
accompanied by her father, who is the second
son of the Arnold of Rugby, Tom Brown S
Arnold Mrs. Ward does not very closely re-
semble the portraits of her which have become
most familiar. She is not dark austerc ana
acute of face as might be inferred from the sharp
outlines of the black and white sketches. On
blonde and brunette which is popularity denom-
mated " fair Her head is not strlilngy large;
her features are long and not perfectly regular,
expressive of power and continuity rather than OF
offeminate dilettantism. Her forehead is pretty
well concealed by the old style of combng the
hair down smoothly on either side. Her hair
has n positive tendency TO wrinkle and wave-to
crinkle rather, like waves under very gentle
wind Her eyes are full, luminous, and one
would be venturesom 10 say of what color-per-
haps gray, perhaps chestnut. perhaps brown or
blue They are of various hucs according 10 ulo
external ght and the internal occupation lhey
look gravely brown when she thinks long at
time upon tie same topic; they become chllulshy
blue and merry when the smile parts the rather
full lips especially is the upper lip full ana shc
gives forth a pleasant, although obviously re-
strained, laugh. Her hands, a. they escaped now
and then from silkcn draperies, proved to be
large, shapely and artistic
She wore white gown cut in a way that may
he called modification of the reigning style. 1t
was not rigorous DirectOire, but presented the
favorite long lines of that revived mode Her
figure being easily suited. being tall, pliable and
well proportional she would look well in any
thing; but her graceful presence was somewhat
hidden by her evening mantle, which she did not
discard its copious folds falling around her, sybl-
like as she sat quite at ease, simple and free from
selfconscousness yet knowing that she was the
cvnosure of brilliant company One would not
call her a beautiful or even handsome woman;
hit she impresses every one with the dignity the
strength and the of her intellectual force,
and is as amiable and kindly in manner as If she
were the unknown author of Miss Bretherton IN
stead Of perhaps, the most widely known noVellSt
living and the undoubted successor OF hef Illus
trious countrywoman, George Eliot. am not
sure that the latter phrase is justified, Tor lhomas
Arnold went to New-Zealand in his youth as an
inspector OF schools, and from that country was
transferred by the British Colonial Office of which
he was "A subordinate to Tasmania. lhere lie
married Julia Sorrell, granddaughter OF
former governor; and there Mary Augusta
their eldest daughter, was born The relationship
between father and daughter, strange to say, Is
the foundation of Robert Elsmere." the intel
ectual and moral relationship. Tor. all gossip
to the contrary, it is true that Ill the evolution
and devolution of her fathers religious beliefs
,bo DAUGHTER found the genesis of her hero
urea cher Old DR.. Arnold. IL will be remembered.
lived n good part of his august and beautiful lie
amid the surroundings and within the precincts
that transferred so large a number Of oxford
scholars TO the communion OF Rome. lie frmly
believed i'm the Divinity Of Christ. although some
what disposed to Unitaranlsm IN other matters
ibut he fingered with Keble One of his sons.
Matthew. became in time the disciple more of
Francis than of John Henry Newman: but Thomas
Arnold. the younger. entered. while in Tasmania;
the Church of Rome. On returning TO England
he prayed meditatcd and studied at the Oratory
in Birmingham. within the shadow of Joseph
Chambcrlain's modest old home. which he has
discarded for a prcentous new one; but after
the lapse of few years, portion OF the period
brng spent as professor in the now delunct Cath.
olic University in Dublin. Mr.. Arnold discarded
The dogmas Of Roman Catholicism and returned
to Oxford very much in the condition Of another
character in the novel, who believed
nothing It was while he was engaged
on his various text books there that
his daughter met Thomas llumphrv Ward, whose
father was vicar Of St Barnabas's, Kings Square.
London, and who in his younger DAYS was as
conservative in his religious views rs he Is now IN
definite IN them Mr. Ward ASS el HIM In the