The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-19

gIR EDWIN AnNoLD Al HARvABD.
| The Authsr n ssTke Light u ASIA
/ Il the Guest Of haryarG University
and Delivers twe Lectures.
| Special correspondence.
BosToS, MASS, Oct. 14--Last May
when Sir Edwin Arnold announced
his intention Of accepting President
Eliots invitation to visit Harvard IN
October and lecture there, furry
was visible in the literary world.
The Pail Mall Gazette and other
London papers reminded us that Sir
Edwin was hero Of purely an Amer
lean build-that in London the edi-
tor of the Telegraph was not deemed
so great an author as he seemed to
be across the water Then in this
country some of the disgruntled crit
les remembered that Sir Edwin was
the son-in-la law of the great Charming,
and so distant relative of President
Elliott and 0. w. Holmes and SO con-
cluded that it was mere family az
fair. Others, remembering Sir Ed
wins Oriental tastes and embrace of
Buddhism seemed to think it was
an attempt to found a school of eau
tama at Harvard. that the "Poetizer
and Paganizer" had been sent for.
Despite all these things, / resolv-
ed at the time, if possible, to hear
the famous Englishman when he
came. For 1 have always highly en-
joyed and valued "The Light of
Asia" and 1.-THE Pearls of the Faith. :"
1t may be true that DR.. Holmes was
insincere, as is claimed, when he
said of the former: at is work Of
great beauty. 1t tells story of in
tense interest, which never flags for
moment; its descriptions are drawn
by the hand of master, with the
eye of poet and the familiarity of
an expert with the objects described:
its tone is so lofty that there is moth
ing with which to compare it but the
New Testament; it is full of variety,
now picturesque, now pathetic, now
rising into the noblest strains of
thought and aspiration, it finds Ian
guage penetrating, fluent, elevated,
impassioned, musical always to
clothe its varied thoughts.
The poem is a noble epic added to
English literature"
The charge of insincerity against
the Doctor may be true, say; and
it may be that the poem sis utterly
devoid of literary ability and is only
a tumble of meaningless rhymes" as
Mr.. Wilkinson in his famous critique
of it contends-as it is doubtless
true that its description of qualities
and thoughts to Gautama and of the
wonderful Indictment to nobility of
life by Notwithstanding the one
rival of Christ and the other a re-
ligion preferable to christianity--the
overdrawn work of an enthusiast.
Yet must say that the poem has
ever had strange charm for me,
and afforded me much inspiration.
And taken for just what it is, poem
and not system of philosophy it is
a master stroke of genius.
So as constant reader and lover
of his poems l went over to Harvard
on the evening of Oct. to hear Sir
Edwin in: "The Iliads of India" 1t
seems that many others too wanted
to see and hear him, for Sanders
Theatre-Harvard's largest hall
was packed. twas as fine an audi
ence as ever greeted any En-
glishman anywhere. There were
present Harvard's Faculty and many
members of their families, Presi-
dents of half dozen of the great
colleges of the country score of
famous preachers, as many well
known professors and poets, philoso-
pliers and statesmen. In short the
culture of New England was there.
When Mr.. Arnold appeared he wore
a full dress coat, and instead of the
usual white shirt front and low vest,
his white vest was buttoned up very
high and the remainder of the shirt
front was completely hidden by a
black scarf tie On his breast he
wore star, decorative of the
Queen indicative of his work in In
dia, and pendant from his neck hung
the insignia of his baronetry. OIL
good height, with broad chest, a
profile reminding me of Chas. Dick
els and a full face of an oriental
shaik, with bow as profound and
stately as Salaam of the harem Sir
Edwin stood before us.
He smiled, then changed his mind
and looked savage. He then changed
his base of operations and moved his
feet-then he spake. His address,
despite its very poor delivery, the i'll
at ease and egotism of the speaker,
was warmly received. 1t was full of
to America, quotations
from Holmes and Emerson and a
rosy optimism as regards the religion
and life of India. Still it was an in
and meritorious discourse
poetical and musical Sir Edward
is prominently a poet and one is
disappointed with him as a lecturer
after having read his poems.
He started out by saying that he
was a novice at lecturing-a truth
which he demonstrated. In the first
part of the address his feet troubled
him. He would cross them first one
way and then the other and seemed
TO suffer from too tight shoes.
When he had gotten fairly started
be elevated his voice and rushed in
wildly tossing his hands frantically.
He would pull out of Que of his pan
;aloon's pockets large white hand
lerchief, mop his brow and then en-
leavor to restore it to it's former re-
but it usually hung down
lalf way to the floor. ("That was
English you know")
l came home "sadder and wiser {
nan"-sad that mans powers were
70 limited and that man might be
great author and an execreble lee
urer-wiser in that / Lad seen one
# the English nobility, vanitas can (
tdtum. !
Really as lecturer Mr.. Arnold is
failure-as l heard one of the col
eye presidents say,-"In what
'alo of opinion Mr.. Arnold lives. He
5 an oriental enthusiast and to I
L;1xht uro..ld aoox,, Il, L. IL q LIZ