MR MATHEW ARNOLD AND THE BARE-FOOTED NEWSBOY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1716, 27 March 1888, Page 4

MR MATHEW ARNOLD AND THE BARE-FOOTED NEWSBOY.

Mr Matthew Arnold (says the Boston Herald) was greatly struck by the democratic government of our reading-room when he was in Boston. He came in here one day and saw a little barefooted newsboy sitting in one of the best chairs, enjoying himself apparently for dear life. The great essayist was completely astounded. "Do you let baretooted biys in this reading room Vhe asked. " iou would never see such a sight as that in fcurope. I do not believe there is a reading-room in all Europe in which that boy, dressed as he is, would enter." Then Mr Arnold went over to the boy, engaged him in conversation, and found that h? was reading the •' Life of Washington," and that be was a young gentleman of decidedly anti-British tendencies, and, for his age, remarkably well informed. Mr Arnold remained talking with the youngster for some time, and, as he came back to our desk, the great Englishman said, " I do not think I have been so impressed with anything else that Ihavp seen since arriving in this country 33 1 »ra now with meeting this barefooted boy in this What a tribute to democratic institutions is it to say that, instead of sending that boy out to wander akin* in the streets, they peimit him to come in here and excite bis youthful imagiuation by readiug such a book as the 'Life of Washington !'. The reading of that one book may change the whole course oftbat boy's life, and may be the means of making him a useful, honourable, worthy ciiiz-n of this great country. It is, I tell you, a sight tbat impresses a European not accustomed to your democratic ways."