New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-18
,oo.be, IN large numbers. and turned out to shift

nbvsical activity was satisfied by walking. His
| anusements were mostly solitary, and IN general,
of quiet, if not boolish turn. Hence he always
remained inexpert in anything that required manual
dexterity. HIS mind, as well as his hands, did its
work lamely when applied TO practical details
Thus he was constantly meTiting reproof for mat
tention, inobservance. and general slackness OF
mind IN matters of daily life. The father was al the
opposite extreme in these particulars his senses anu
mental faculties were always on the alert ne car
ned decision and energy of character IN his "no'o
manner and into every action of life. lhis gun. %
much as his talents, contributed to the strong I'M
preston which he always made upon 'hOSo WIN
| whom he came into personal contact. -,
THE religions education of Mr.. Mill was entirely
! NJ n negative character. He was brought up iroii
the first without any re gous belief, in the conhlon
aceentation of the term. His father, who was euu
Gated in the forced of Scotch PresbyteriansIn hau
been early led TO reject the doctrines both OF
and of natural religion. After remaining ior sono
| time IL, a state of perplexty, and obtaining no
GROUND for mental repose he AT last yeldeu % 'e
conviction that concerning the origin OF things noh
ing whatever can be known. This, says MI MILL Is 'he
only correct statement of his opinion, Tor dOguatic
atheism he looked upon as absurd as most oil those
whom the world has considered atheists nave
ALWAYS done. His rejection of religious belief was
the grounds of it were moral still more than intel
lectual. He found it impossible to believe that
world so full of evil was the work of authoreom-
bining infinite power with perfect goodness. He
was more inclined to the old Manichean hypoth esis
of a Good and an Evil Principle struggling against
each other for the government of the universe and
has been heard to express surprise that no one had
revived the theory in our own time. Ii would
have been inconsistent with Mr.. Mills idea
Of duty to allow his son to acquire impressions con-
trary to his own convictions in regard TO religion
He accordingly, taught him from the first that con-
corning the origin of existence, nothing was known
but at the Same tIme he took care 10 acquaint him
with what had been thought by mankind on that
| impenetrable problem. The young man was thus
| one of the few examples in England who had not
thrown oil religious belief but who had never bad IT.
The influence of the lady who afterwards became
his wife. upon the development Of his mind and
opinions is described by Mr.. Mill in tone of enthu
siasto but delicate appreciation, which presents
rare portraiture of womanly excellence. His first
introduction to her was when he was in his twenty
| fifth and she in her twenty-third year. With her
| husbands family it was the renewal Of an old
| mountaineering. Although it was several years
before his acQuaintanceship with Mrs. Taylor be-
came at all intimate, he found her the most adj
| mirable person he had ever known Up to the time
| when he first saw her, her nature had chiefly I'M
folded itself according to the received type of fen
nmo genius. To her outer circle she was a
| beauty and q wit, with air of natu-
raj distinction that was felt by all who APP
preached her; TO the inner woman of deep
feeling of Intuitive intelligence and of singularly
meditative and poetic nature. She married at
an early age to most upright brave, and honorable
man. of liberal opinions and good education, but
without the intellectual and artistic tastes that
essential TO n perfect companionship. He
steady and afectionate friend for whom she had the
truest esteem and the strongest affection through
life and whom she most deeply lamented when dead
Shut out by the position of woman in society from
the exercise OF her highest faculties in action on the
| surrounding world her life was of inward medi-
tation varied by familiar intercourse with small
circle of friends, of whom one only Gong since
deceased was person of genius or capable oil feel
ing or intellect kindred with her own, but all had
more or less of alliance with her in sentiments and
opinions. AS described by Mr. Mill, her character
was not the product of hard and rigid intellect but
| of great strength of noble and elevated feeling,
combined with highly reverential nature. Alike
in the highest regions OF speculation and in the
smaller concerns of daily life, her mind was the
same perfect instrument piercing to the very heart
and marrow of the matter always selling the
tial idea and principle. "Her intellectual gifts y
saws MI Mill, did but minister to amoral character
at once the nobest and the best balanced which have
ever met with inhfe." Her unseshness was not that
Of a formal system of duties, but of heart which
thoroughly itself with the feelings
The passion of justice might have been thought to
be her strongest feeling but for her bOuDdess gen.
erosity, which was lavish of its gifts to all who
could reqmte her sympathy. She combined the
most gentle modesty with the loftiest pride an
absolute simplicity and sincerity with the utmost
| scorp for whatever was mean and cowarlly, and a
| burning indignation at everything brutal or tyran-
meal faithess or dishonorable in conduct and char
acter. The marriage of Mr. Mill took place in
1851 to the lady Whose incompatible worth
had made her friendship the greatest source
to him both of happiness and improvement
during the many years in which they never
expected to be in any closer relation with
one another. Ardently as / should have aSpired TO
thiscomplete union of our lives at any time in the
course Of my existence at which II had been prac-
ticable, /, as much my wife, would far rather
have toreeOne that privilege for ever than have
| owed it to the premature death Of one for whom
had the sincerest respect and she the strongest
affection. That event however, having taken place
| in July 1879 it was granted to me to derive from
that evil my own greatest good, by adding to tho
partnership of thought, feeling. and writing
which had long existed partnership of oui
entire existence For seven and half years that
blessing was mine for seven and half only! car
say nothing which could describe, even in the faint
est manner, what that loss and is. But because
know that she would have wished it, l endeavor
to make the best of what life i have left
and to work on for her purposes with sucl
diminished strength can be derived from
thoughts of her. and communion with her memory
Mr.. Min presents an admirable exposition of the
motives which prompted his course in relation t.
the American civil war His strongest feelings