The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-24
Mr.. Froude at Oxford.


FRorDE to the Rcgius Professorship Of
Modern History at Oxford. the chair left
vacant by the death OF EDWARD AUGUSTUS
FREEMAN. at first excited surprise and a
good deal OF criticism in certain quarters.
There Is, however. no reason why a great
university should confine itself to one con-
ception Of the right method OF writing his
tory. and there is. on the whole. DISPOSE
ton to approve Of the selection made on the
ground that Mr.. FRoupE. whatever may be
his deficiencies on the score of accuracy. is
one Of the greatest living masters OF the
English language. Even the Saturday Re
rie,r. in whose columns appeared many Of
FREEMAN's severe attacks upon FRoUDE.
considers that tho author Of the History
OF England from the Fall OF Wolsey to
the Defeat Of the Spanish Armada " will be
no unworthy occupant Of a chair which in
our time has been tenanted by GOODWIN
SMITH. Bishop STUBBs. and FREEMAN. The
only rival candidate OF weighty claims
among Oxonians was SAMUEL RAwsoN
GARDINER. the author Of the History OF
England Under the First Two Stuarts." and
OF the Great Civil War;" but Mr.. GARp1-
NEE is eleven years younger than Mr..
FEouDE and therefore can afford to wait.
His predecessors. FREEMAN. STUBS. and
GOODWIN SMITH. were all younger than
FRouDE. and did not matriculate until he
had graduated. 1t Is an interesting fact
that neither FRoUDE nor his inexorable
critic. FREEMAN. succeeded in obtaining
any higher honors on graduation than a
second class in classics. or the so-called
Greats" WILLIAM STuBBs, on the other
hand. got first class. and GOODWIN SMITH,
who graduated in the same year with
FREEMAN. not only took first class in
classics. but gained the Hartford and Ire
land scholarships. together with the Chan
cellor's prizes for Latin verse and for Latin
and English essays. Mr.. SMITH was made
Professor Of History in 1858 and held the
post till 1906. No lectures delivered In the
chair Of history at Oxford have attracted so
much attention In the country at large as
was paid to those Of Mr.. SMITH. and the
distinction gained by their author gave
great weight to his earnest advocacy Of the
cause Of the Union during our civil war.
He was succeeded by Bishop. then Mr.,
STUBS. whose relations with FREEMAN were
peculiarly intimate. and as THoRoID Roc
Frs used to say. mutually profitable. One OF
ROGERs's squibs averred that "ladling but
ter from alternate tubs. STUDIES buffers
FREEMAN. FREEMAN buffers STUBS" No one
disputes. however that the bread In each
case was worth buttering. FREEMANs turn
came in 1884. and lie remained Professor of
History ut Oxford until his recent unex-
pected death. Mr. GARDINER, who, as We
have said. would naturally be pressed by
his friends for the vacant place. held at one
time the Professorshipof Modern History
at Kings College, London.
1t will be in the 10th year Of his age that
Mr.. FRoUDE will return to a university
with which he broke Off his connection. one
can scarcely say voluntarily. moro than
forty years ago. He became Fellow OF
Exeter College in 1912. and two years after
ward was ordained a deacon In the Church
OF England. For some time he was an &C.
tive member OF the High Church party. Of
which his brother. HURRELL FRoUDE. and
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN subsequently Cardi. |
nall were the most conspicuous members.
In his Nemesis OF Faith" JAMES ANTHONY
FRoUDE protested against what he called |
the Hebrew mythology Of the Anglican |
Church. and the book was severely con-
Lemned by the university authorities. For
this and other reasons his position ut Ok
ford became SO unpleasant that lie resigned
his Fellowship. dcyoting himself thence
forth to literary labors. We may add that
when the Clerical Disability act was passed.
nc took advantage OF it to relnquish the
office OF deacon. On the whole, he has hith-
'rto had cause to feel that his alma mater
has treated him like stcpmother rather
han with true maternal fondness. Yet so
powerful arc early predictions that her
ardy recognition OF him will perhaps be
more grateful than all the other proofs OF
admiration which have come to him from
he English-speaking world.