New-York tribune., 1910-06-08

sion on the state of the university. That
institution then offered rich feld for in
vestigetion Clericalism. snoboery ana
corruption were rampant AS assistant
secretary of the original commission and
secretary of the second, he won recogni-
ton as a reforrner As result OF the
report prepared by him and hled in 1852
Oxford was freed 10 a considerable degree
of the abuses which beset her, and to
Goldwin Smith went a good part Of the
credit.
1t was in this year too. that his 'Lect-
ures on the Study of History appeared and
won for the author secure place as
serious student of that subject. So rapidly
did his reputation grow that in 1888 at the
age of thirty-five he became regius pro-
fessor of modern history at Oxford This
professorship he held for eight years. dur
ing that period when England was passing
through the changes that produced the sec
ond great Reform bill in 1867 and America
was torn by civil war. To the shaplns OF
the momentous events of those years ne
lent the influence of an active pen. Ine
ant-slavery cause was dear TO MIN. he
visited America in 1854 and learned at hrst
hand the real situation.
Life at Cornell.
The illness of Professor Smiths father
led TO his resignation in 1866 as family
affairs demanded his attention. Two years
later. impeIled partly by dissatisfaction
with the trend of English affairs and part
~ by his interest In American ,reconstruc-
tion he came 10 the United States and be-
came professor of English and constitu-
tionaI history in Cornell University, which
had then just opened its doors. There also
he achieved high hOnors AS evidence of
the esteem in which he was held one Of
the later university buildings was named
after him. His relations with the founders
were most pleasant He presented a library
to the university in 1865. Nevertheless, he
soon longed for life once more under the
British flag. and in 1871 he resigned his
chair at Cornell retaining, however, an
honorary professorship. He moved to
Toronto, where he had relatives. 1t was
not till then that he married, taking as his
wife the widow of William Beulton, There
he had made HIS home ever since in The
Grange, a vineclad mansion of the rural
English style surrounded by broad lawns
shaded by huge old elms This mansion,
which he acquired through his marriage,
is one of the oldest in the city, having been
built in 1917.
Although during his forty-two years of
residence in Canada he always took keen
interest in her political life, his interest
was utterly regardless of party. Never
running for office holding in view any
mercenary end. he was always outspoken
in his views. Nor did he court even pop
Llarity at tho expense of independence.
American union subjected him perhaps
more than anything else TO bitter criticism.
He gave wide currency to this view in his
books on THE Political Destiny of Can
ada" and on Canada and the Canadian
Question Those we're Canadas lean years
when Goldwin Smith first took up his resi-
dence within her borders. So at the start
there was found some response to the
prophet of annexation, but in later years.
with the coming of prosperity, he found
himself standing almost alone. At the last
he had tacitIy abandoned his pro-annexa-
ton opinions.
His Many Publications.
Among his many books perhaps the best
known are his Political History OF the
United Kingdom" Political History OF
the United States and Essays on Ques-
tions OF the Day" AS a historian, unlike
most scholars who have won fame in that
field, he did not in his books betray long
continued and laborious research. He was
rather the lucid commentator than the
maker Of history. In his theory of history
he held that free will necessarily baff1ed
all scientific prediction. He was great
believer in the determining action of great
men.
Others OF his publications are Irish His
tory and Irish Character. Three English
Statesmen THE Empire" Does the
Bible Sanction American Slavery?" The
Civil War in America Letter on South
ern Independence,'' Rational Religion and
Rationalistic Objection Canada and the
Canadian Question THE Political Des-
tiny of Canada" Loyalty, Aristocracy
and Jingoism," False Hopes, Lectures
and Essays" 'Cowper," Jane Austen.
The United States" Essays on Questions
of the Day "A Trip to England, OK
ford and Her Colleges William LLOYD
Garrison bay Leaves" Specimens OF
Greek Tragedy" "Guesses at the Riddle
of Existence" 1.-THE United Kingdom, -
Commonwealth or Empire" In the
Court of History The Founder of Chris
tendom.'' Lines of Religious Inquiry,
MY Memery of Gladstone Irish His
tory and the Irish Question, In quest
of Light" Revolution or Progress?' La
Dor and Capital and mo Refuge but the
Truth"
To these and many other extensive
works must be added countless minor con-
tributions to the magazines. Hardly
week passed during his long career but
communication from his pen appeared in
some leading periodical Of eeher the
United States or Great Britain For many
wears he wrote as "Bystander" in "Tne
Toronto Weekly sun This journalistic
work he did not abandon till the fan OF
1902. In it all there was invariably the
grace of style which raised him head and
shoulders above most of his contempora-
riAs He was never so hurried as to be
slipshod. And he was as polished
speaker as he was a writer
His Wide Reading.
He was a wide reader Ra!zac and
rbacterav were among his favorite authors
as well as Scott. Jane Austen and George