The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-09

Letters of Matthew Arnold" collected
and arranged by George w. E. Russell.
The Macmillan company, New York
1t seems almost like taking an unfair
advantage of the confidential chats of
a great man to make use of his most
familiar letters in book, and vet if is
by such means that we can best learn
the true character of the man. bio-
graphy is apt to be fullsome. if written
by friend, or at the least to be some
what biased. An autography cannot tell
a mans feelings and beliefs, for he will
be unconsciously Influenced nv the CON
sc1ous fact that he is writing about him.
self, for the general public and he will
naturally be anxious to make a good
appearance. Quite contrary to this is if
with a complete set of letters. written
by an individual to those of whose love
and confidence he is assured and under
circumstances that lay open the heart
and mind as cannot otherwise ba dome
on paper To read personal letters is =
sort of literary vivisection, and great
indeed is that character whose private
correspondence will bear such insnec-
ton.
While one somehow deprecates this
sort of literary vivisection, it must he
admitted that the loss to the world in
the suppression of such letters as those
OF the poet and essayist, Matthew Arm
would
TINS suppression have been lost TO
the literary world but had Matthew
Arnold's own request been needed. and
these letters kept from public view. we
could not in any other way have gained
such an insight into the tenderness and
playfulness and filial affection of thfs
man, whose public literary work showed
SO much of beauty and formality and
Surehgth, but far less of his real char
hn1 &c. e,l,orr
This son of the great Arnold of Rue-
by, himself one of the greatest men of
letters Of the century, expressly request
ed that he might no be made the suh
Ject of biography His family. how
ever, felt that a selection from his let-
tiers was not prohibited, and the grateful
reading public will express general
thanfulneSs at that decision. He cor
responded regularly with his nearest re-
Iauons, and his correspondence was es-
sentally familiar and domestic. with no
thought of any outside the family circle
ever seeing them. In this very fact is
their beauty and our endowment of them
1heSe letters show man Of genial
disposition, quick sympa thy, constant
unselhshness, manly endurance of trials
loyalty to friends and associat es.> a bow
ISM appreciation of kindness and adrnira-
uoh' all concealed under a magnificent
0-A@'J u NC1hCduOI, DIS seen by The ont
side world
Matthew Arnold was born at J.q1ebau
IN the Valley Of the Thames on Christ-
mas eve, 1922. He entered the famous
Rugby school in 1897. In 1910 he wo,, q
school prize with his first published
poem Alaric at Rome" After goine
through Oxford with high honors and
teachlng for time at Rugby, he became
private secretary to Lord Landsdownc
then lord president of the council Eris
me tnenceforward was with the pubiic
ana from time to time he issued his
volumes of poems and his various ev.
says saw light It would be Impossible
IN any brief sketch to- detail his variou1
movements, and a simple recital of his
puolIshed works tells little of NOTHING
4 Lnese entertaining letters give the .sbe-
tween the lines" view of his work. while
they reveal the lovely and IovabIe chez
acter Of the man. To read the ,ettar,
compels love and admiration for the
His last published letter was written
only i've days before his death. to his
SISTER and in it he looks forward VIII
Joy 10 the early arrival of his elder
daughter from America.
one Of the especially eniovab1v FOO
lures OF these familiar letters is l..
frank comment Of this great crit1c On
current events and on current literature.