OBITUARY.

Southland Times, Issue 14439, 9 June 1910, Page 5

OBITUARY.

SR. GOLDWIN SMITH. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, Juno 7, Obituary—Goldwln Smith. Last February a cable from Toronto said:—“Dr Goldwin Smith lies at hla home, The Grange, seriously 111, suffering from the effects of a bad fall. While walking he slipped and fell heavily, being severely shaken up. His advanced age and weakness contribute t6 the alarm of his many friends In regard to his condition.” i Since the death of his wife some time ago, Dr Smith had seemingly aged more rapidly. They had no children. He was 87 years old. Born in England in 1823, Goldwln Smith had one of the brightest scholastic careers of his age. He was called to the bar in England, but never practiced law, and in 1858 was appointed regius professor of modern history at Oxford University. At this period ha was tho tutor of King Edward, who maintained a personal interest in his' career. At the time of Mrs Smith’s death his late majesty cabled a message of sympathy and followed It with a personally written letter. Dr Smith was as ardent champion ot the North during the American civil war, and on a visit to America In 1864 was warmly welcomed In the North. He held his position at Oxford University until 1868, when he went to the United States and became honorary professor of Eng- - lish and constitutional history at Cornell University. It was in 1871 that he came to Toronto, where he has since resided. In the hearts of the people of this ultra-imperialistic city and throughout Canada generally he occupies a unique position. Always an advocate of close relations between Canada and the United States, a firm believer In the former country eventually peacefully becoming part of the latter he has for years stood almost alone In this regard. On the other hand, the people of Canada are proud of the man’s courage, another example of which was the manner In which he publicly and persistently condemned the Boc-r war and Canada's participation therein. They are proud that the man, who time and again has been declared to have no equal as a master of English prose, lives among them. They love him for his many private charities and for his energetic services in connection with public charitable Institutions and movements. He founded and conducted a number of weekly papers here, which had existences of more or less length, the survivor being the Weekly Sun. His latest contributions were in the shape of strong protests against Canada embarking upon the naval policy. In all the stress of his busy life Goldwin Smith has never been known to refuse aid to what he believed to be a good Two extreme instances may be noted. He gave months of time to Increasing law work without pay, as a member of tho commission .whose recommendations to the Ontario government with regard to (the University of Toronto were adopted, with the result that the institution now ranks among the foremost on the continent. At about the same time he accompanied a deputation of brewers which waited upon the same government to protest against any further Increase in liquor license fees or any further legislative I restrictions of the liquor traffic unless ; full compensation was given. This des--1 pite the fact that he is a most temperate man himself and that in Ontario l the temperance sentiment is steadily introducing local option everywhere, Tho Grange, the splendid old style residence in which he lives, will after his death go to the charity of Toronto for use as a free museum and art gallery. It contains a wonderful collection of plate, antiques and paintings, the intrinsic value of which Is placed at 1,500,000 dollars, The collection includes gifts from the King and the Queen of England, the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family, as well as others of the European monarchs/ LONDON, June 7, Sir William Francis Butler died at: his home in Tipperary, of heart failure. Sir William, who was 72 years of age,, had had a distinguished military career, and was an author of some note.