The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-28
The Glory OF Ashford.

me Glory OF ASHFORD.
The "Gazetteer" gives fewer details than
we could wish about the town of Ashford,
England. The Gazetteer" tantalizes the
inquirer with the information that Ash.
ford is twelve and q half miles southwest
Of Canterbury that 1.-THE principal street,
nearly half a mile in length, is paved and
lighted" a very thrilling piece Of informa.
ton, by the way and that "the church,
once collegiate, is large and has some SUI.
perb monuments" Ashford will be ia
nous henceforth for something nobler than
half a mile of principal street. 1t Is the
place in which Mr.. ALFRED AUSTIN, author
of "Won by q Head" and other laurelled
master pieces, delivered in October, 1897,
his epoch-making address on "The Re.
lations Of Science and Art" an ad-
dres 8 which Ashford will number among
its superb monuments. The local Com
mittee Of Technical Education kindly
provided Ashford with a School of Sci.
ence and Art. which Mr.. AUSTIN kindly
consented to open. THE bare mention of
the word Art" he said, "arouses my SYM
pathies; nor do I feel less attracted by it
when associated, as it is on this OCCASION,
IL po hooic u ColupdLlOu as SClcUCe.
The enthusiasm of the prominent residents
OF the district" when these beautiful senti-
ments were expressed may be guessed. The
magnanimity of the poet in consenting to
patronize Science must have struck the
audience. He soon explained, however,
that "Science Is exact knowledge" and
"exact knowledge is the foundation of all
the Arts" So the poet and the man of
science are brothers or first cousins, and II
Mr.. AUSTIN were not himself he might nave
been another Lord KELVIN. Here we must
make room for some profound and instruc.
tive remarks as to the art.science which
MIR. AUSTIN processes:
at is in vain for q man to have language. ideas. and
even imagination, and to suppose that with these he
will be a poet. If at the same time he lacks what has
been called the accomplishment OF verse. II he does
not possess an intimacy, either instinctipe or dc
CURED. Nth the ldL1s and notifications OF prouody:
nor will the matter OF his verse be of much account,
unless 1t be animated by tho scientific spirit OF close
and wide observation and OF loving accuracy
The Poet L%aureate's observations about
the necessity of prosody to the inspired
bootmaker bring to our mind the pathetic
fact revealed some twenty years ago by the
catalogue of a Tennessee college "Many
men who might AVE risen to the highest
eminence in literature and perhaps written
their names by the side of LOCKE and
MILTON, have been condemned to obscurity
by their failure to learn to read and write
In boyhood." But let us note and praise
MIR. AUsTIN's courageous devotion to his
own business: "If you believe yourself to
be an artist in the true sense of the word"
ha cola tLa kfo-I...
incredulity of others shake your faith or In
the f~aintest degree discourage you" If the
poet likes his work, why should he care for
the censure3 of barbarians who don't 2
his poetical self-sutficiency, however, must
be accompanied by "the utmost accuracy"
We revere Mr.. AUsTIN's genius, but was he
accurate to the uttermost when he told
Ashford that athens produced EUCLID as
well as PRAxITELEs," and that "PoPE was
'lisping in numbers when NEWTON pub.
lished his 'Principia'"2 We are unable to
find that anybody. except Mr.. AUSTIN,
knows where EUCLID was born and the
books seem to be of the opinion that the
"Principia' was published the year before
PORE made his first appearance in this
world. do not BIO afraid" Mr.. AUSTIN,
" lest by seeking to be scientific, by aiming
at the utmost accuracy, you will inhict in
jury on your artistic capacity"
1.-THE Shrine of Art" said Mr.. AUSTIN in
conclusion, with a prodigality of capital
letters worthy of BULwER in his choicest
moments, I" Is reached through the Door of
Humility" The Vicar of Ashford moved a
vote of thanks, and the motion was sec
onded by DIR. WILKs in this delicious man
ner:
"He spoke OF Mr.. AUSTIN as an embodiment In his
own person of both Science aud Art. and rs an exam.
pie OF the determination he counselled students to cul.
uyate. 1t was NO small thing to write poetry. hut to
MI. AUSTIN submitted to readers from time to time
was even greater"
These are compliments which take the
breath away, and the worthy DIR. WuLKs
knows how to make them, In responding,
MIR. AUSTIN uttered this sentiment:
IF 1t were true that England was losing In com.
petition with other nations owing to tho lack OF
technical culture, students should crafty themselves
Dy the reflection that they were not only Improving
themselves, hut were adding to the powss, Teputa-
uoh' and success OF their country, and that was the
highest OF all qualifications"
Inspired by the reflection that Mr.. AUS
TIN opened their institution and that they
are adding to the power, reputation. and
success of England, the students of the