New-York tribune., 1891-05-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

LEADERS IN SCIENCE; Charles Darwin HIS oLn Lie
and work by Charles Frederick Holder. 12mo,
DID. 270. G. p Putnam's Sons.
The series to which this volume belongs aims, ap-
paren.y at popular presentation of the main facts
In the lives of eminent men of science Such sketches
can Of course be neither strictly biographical nor
responsby scientific. Mr. Holder for example. confines
his account Of Darwns life work TO proportions al
most unreasonably modest. large part of the book
is taken up with transcripts from Darwin's "Voyage
OF the Beagle labor which seems somewhat super
fuous; while the account Of Darwinism Is cnrtailed
correspondingly, and the controversial results Vi
Darwins publications-an extremely Interesting SUP
iect-receive scant attention. The arrangement OF
Mr.. Holders material too, leaves mucl 10 oe uo
sired. There is noticeable want OF oruerilhess
.bont it, Thus the writer conducts the life OF Darwin
10 it's conclusion chronicles his death and BURIAL ana
then sets of afrcsh as though ne had only reacncu
The first stage in his undertaking. The devouoh oi
10 much space to the memorial addresses was happier
thought inasmuch as the various phases OF Darwlns
scientific career and the nature and scope OF his ac
,ompYshments are in this way presented with parscu
lar clearness and in authoritative manner lhere
is also a good photography Of his writings which Is
In itself timely and valuable compilation.
With all its faults, however, Mr.. Holders volume Is
calculated to meet definite need and 1t should prove
welcome especially the young and 10 that large class
whose members want general outline sketch OF impO
ant facts have neither time nor inclination TO read
Exhaustive biographies scientific works The life OF
Charles Darwin lacks one element which is generally
supposed TO recommend scientific biography to young
ambition. He did not have TO struggle Win
poverty in working ont his nfepurpose. lie
aid not have to save candle-ends and sit up
half the night in p cold garret TO teach himself
mathematics or astronomy lie was apprentced nether
10 barber, baker a blacksmith. on the contrary
he was the of rich man. and all his life had plenty
pf money. The "res augusta domi' was never eX
perienced by him. He could get whatever material
helps he required, and without pinching himself And
his freedom from all the that accompany poverty
was unouestionaby immense advantage to him. for
enabled him to apply all his energy to the WORK ne mad
devoted himself to- aud II counted for much In MS az
gregate output Men of science who have to fight their
way ND are heavily handicapped and the eNeencles OF
their circumstances detract from their productive ca
pacity 1t was not so with Darwin, and the world
should be thankful for the fact.
Again It must be said that no eminent man OF science
,ould have had a more fortunate training. HIS nve
gears on the Beagle gave him an ideal education as
naturalist Actual sight. actual experiment the study
Of living forms, of geological phenomena oil piante'
Of coras and fishes and agae of the fauna and flora OF
many lands necessarily produce stronger and more last
ing Impressions than less direct methods OF nstruc
tion The bent Of course there from the beginning
The young man so happy as 10 be able 10 pursue
the work which Of all others he delighted IN was III
his blood and inevitably he did what came to MS hahd
In this way with enthusiasm. The story Of his life on
the Beagle indeed must always appeal in an especial
manner 10 the Young tastes run in the same gen
eraI direction, and the journal of the voyage may al
most be regarded textbook so far as TINS goes
Mr. Holder has made good use OF the MATERIAL thoush
certainly not better Darwin himself did. Ii Is,
however, the really great works of his life which are
here belittled comparatively by condensation ana IL IS
precisely at this point that we should have looked iof
some expansion. The details OF DarWlnS daily HE
and habits are doubt interesting in their way Dut
mrther particulars concerning his experiments ana re
searches his laboratory lfe to speak, would nave
been more TO the purpose 1t would perhaps be I'M
practicable to make life of Charles Darwin uninter
sstng or 10 dvest of stimulating qualities, for it was
aot only useful but beautiful life, te cross OF which,
physical pain, did not sour but sweetened the spirit OF
the sufferer Perhaps Mr. Holders volume may lead
eome vho might not otherwise have done so to the
works of the master himself II so he will certainly
be amply repaid his by no means excessive labors