The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-01
DEATH OF GEORGE COMBE, THE PHRE-
t N0LOGIST
ti'rom The New York Esprss.,l

NOLOGIST
From the New York Expressl
George Combe author of ssThe Constitution OF Man
his annual custom left Edinburgh early in sum,
NOR and paid visits several Of his friends and connex
ions in the south of England. 1t only Ia August
that he considered ailing On Friday, the 18TH his
malady affection of the chest left hope OF recov
cry and he expired the 4h of August at the age Of
tlree-score and ten years His life a wonderful
ample of the soundnees and beneficial influence of the
practical preeepts of his philosophy but II was only
those who enjoyed his friendship who really knew how
thoroughly compatible that philosophy with the
ercise Of every amiable and generous feeling.
Combes book on the Constitution of Man ranks next ia
circulation in England to the Bible Pilgrims Progress
and Robinson Crusoe lie of family OF IL OF
whom George and Andrew alone conspicuous. The
deceased descended both sides from respectable
tenant farmers Their father tall robust staunch
Presbyterian of whom his chronological SONS report that
he could never find hat that he could get his head into
and was Obliged to have block to himself Their
mother was energetic and conscientious indeed the
mother Of seventeen children had need be. Neither
parent had much education and both seem TO have
been excessively strict in the religious discipline Of their
family
The want OF knowledge and the aseticism Of tie welt
ntentoned parents caused the death of Of their
children and radically injured the health Of the rest
Such Is the testimony Of the two brothers. In their rem
nisccnccs of the low damp situation Of their fathers
dwelling at the brewery Of Livingston yard, Edn
burSh and OF its crowded and cd rooms and OF the
dreary Sundays and dismal secalian instruction. which
was all that their parents attempted to give them in
person.
George Combe mine years older than Andrew, was
born in 1888, bred to the law, became writer to
the Signet in 1872 In house in Edinburgh or else
where could Dugald Stewart have found more devoted
disciples The matter-of fact George seems to have
been lifted nearer to poetry by his attendance Dugad
stewarts lectures than at any subsequent period OF bis
life
One day,,a brothel-hwyer met George in the street
and invited him To see Spuzhcim dissect human brain
q there's pl fhntfl hu,na,
something very unlike what it seemed dissectors who
sliced it through and looked no further.
In 1925, the Society for the Diffusion Of Useful Know
ledge was instituted chiefly for the purpose of supply
ing good and cheap books mechanics situtes Where
the want of books as supplementary to lectures was Sc
verely felt Political troubles caused delay but the
scheme was resumed in 1926 and in March 1927, the
issue of the societys tracts began Lord Bougham and
his coadjutors had promised of political social
and what may be called personal knowledge
six weeks before the appearance OF the first of the
cety tracts, George Combe had read to the Phcnolog
cal Society of Edinburgh the first part OF work sIhe
Harmony between the Mental and Moral Constitution Of
Man and the laws of Physical Nature" This was the
first form OF his celebrated Constitution of Man in Re-
laon to External Objects which was published in 1925
and read with unexapcd eageness by almost the entirs
reading classes Of the nation Its circulation had some
time ago amounted to 100 600 In Great Britain and Ire
land and it is in almost every home in the United
States besides having been translated into various con
mental languages There bo doubt that the effect
of the work on the health morality and intellectual cu
tivaton OF the people has been memorable 1t is the
great work and the great of the life OF George
Combo lie wrote other works, but he is known by his
Constitution Of Man. In 1919 he published hs sE-
says on Phrenology, and afterward his elements
"outlnes, " and "Sysem" of the subject and a
volume of Moral Philosophy, and Lectures on Pop
uar Education, s'Notes of his travels in America and
Life of his brother Andrew and, regret to add ha
views art after his visit to Germany and Italy in pur
suit of health,
Perhaps the most useful thing he did was translsne
part of Gall Writings In his great work-the Con
stituon Of Mamie preceded by Spurzheinl whose
'Naural Laws effected for its readers what Combes
work did for the working classes If he had given us the
masters themselves, should have been In better po
on than by seeing them represented in the person OF
special plcadcr who assumes to be their comrade
The merit of Combe great in pertnaciously and ef-
cctively sustaining the right of opinion His remark-
bic sefestcem his selfconsciousness rendering him
very family imIcssionabe his good nature and real
bonevoence his shrcwdness and caution the absence
of all keen scnsiby, and the presence Of constant
of justice all fitted him to hold any given ground
well against unscrupnlois and passionate aversaries
In 1888 he married Miss Cecilia Slons. -Four or Ave
years after he quilted the practice of his profession and
in 1888 accompanied by Mrs Combe, went to the Uni
ted States, where he remained lccturng and preparing
his Journal till lS40 DIR. Spurzhca had visited the
United States in 1882 and died there Ia few months
and the disciples be had obtane wishing another mas
ter invited Combe to lecture TO them Three years after
his return varied by continental journeys too often
rendered necessary by failing health The latter period
of his life was of very inrm health the result as he
believed of the early adverse influence which turned his
and his brother attention to sanitary subjects AZ
ter more and more shutting up for the winters and less
and less ability to enjoy the business and pleasures OF life
and society within his home he died on the l4th
inst at his friend Dr. Lane hydropahc establishment
at Moor Park. a