MATHEW ARNOLD'S VISIT.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1383, 4 April 1884, Page 3

MATHEW ARNOLD'S VISIT.

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Before fetec te came Lord Chief Justice Coleridge ; was received, entertained, feasted, a nd flattered with great social warmth, and upon his departure took occasion to ask Americans to g've special at tention to Mr Arnold. The latter has come, and his visit has been rather a f utile dalliance with large welcome thai i the thing itself. With what Lord Cole bridge asked for him fresh in its mind, all New York upper ten-dom, real and veneered, crowded to hear Mr Arno. Id's first lecture. But they did not yo any more. Only a few rows of ai jditors nearest to him could hear awe *i*d he said. Those who did hear took not the least interest in what he said. It was like trying to pair Sbnbbs wii ih Coleridge. Like most Englishmen, 1* c is a very poor public speaker. He is now in Chicago, where iie has had one g ood audience,, but no more. Like the rei it, I had a curiosity to see the man. Eve ry man whose ideas are worth any thing has a hobby. MiArnold has two. The first is to impress people thai -. they need not break their shins or' ci idanger their necks over contested tl geological creeds ; that 'tis enough to st c in the universe " a power not ourselvt R which makes for righteousness," aa id that we should reverently work with that power. The second is, that instead of making bread and bu tter and books the end of education we should have that sort of education th at makes each person a beautiful spi fit is the life. That spirit is the life—the spirit is the person and that wh-'t-'ver else education doet '. or does not do, it should transform the spirit ; that every man and woman shi ould he refined, courteous, gentle, h elpful, pure, good, full of" sweetness and light." He has forgotten or closes 1 his eyes to the lessons of history. H« > never speaks of the fatherhood of G od and the brotherhood of man-— the fell owship and helpfulness of the Divine Spirit as a motive to righteousness; hence his words fall lifeless and po werless. When the motive ofcurioshV y is satisfied all further interest in the aj lostie and his mission is satisfied too. In the course of a h^>ire> he. freqne ntly annoys and surprises with exaspt sratiug paradoxes, as for instance a tireless hectoring of English dissenters . But he is a keen, clear, graceful, anc I fascinating writer of English words, and deserves more attention than he ii t receiving.