We have to record with sincere regret the death, at
the age of fifty-eight, of Sir Arthur Sullivan, the most popular British composer of the century. Years before the Savoy triumvirate was formed we ventured to predict in these columns that a great fortune was in store for the composer who could set good comic verse to good music. Sir Arthur Sullivan realised this prediction and thoroughly deserved his popularity. He was almost as great a coiner of tunes as Offenbach, with a far greater command of technique and with none of Offenbach's canaillerie. If his more serious compositions hardly fulfilled the brilliant promise of his youth, it must be remembered that he was an almost lifelong victim to ill- health. But at least it can be said of him that his most characteristic work gave wholesome pleasure to the million : nentinent tristem fccit.
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