The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27

fell on, and consequently the demand 10
civil engineers. Thus, at the age OF 20, Spen
GER had TO begin the world afresh. Meanwhil
his mind had been branching out In other quar-
tiers besides civil engineering. He was alread,
musing upon political philosophy and science
in 1912 he contributed 10 a paper called the Non
conformist n series Of articles on The Prope
Sphere Of Government" In his home At Derby
10 which he had returned. his mind was ma
tured by reading and thinking but "a he needed
TO earn his livelihood he cast his eyes towart
journalism. and in is4s was invited to take th'
position Of sub-editor Of tho Econom,a. Thu
post he held for Ave years. and before he re-
nounced it he had got his feet on the first runs
Of the ladder of fame. In issoappeared "Socia
States. the object of which was to base the
writer's practical views Of the nature and scope
of government on a coherent set Of first prin'
ciples. In this work are 10 he found the germs
OF the pregnant spsculations which were to lead
TO the far-reachinR cosmical generalization
which. like a magnet, gathers 10 itself the scat
tered fragments Of scientific thought.
The ten years from 1850 Till 1880. when the
| prospectus Of the Synthetic Philosophy
| was issued. we're fruitful 10 Mr.. Spencer, both
socially and intellectually Although his writ
ings were not popular. they had brought him
| into notice in circles where high thinking was
sure TO he appreciated. The intervals Of lei
sure secured while he was on the STAFF Of the
Economs, had been turned to account by
him in contributing tn the leading reviews.
notably the Wsstm,nster. which. at that time.
! had. as sib-editor. Mary Ann Evans. destined
| later 10 take the world by storm as the author
| Of Adam Bede," liz the life Of George Eliot
are 10 he found a number Of references to the
rising philosopher. Thus. in n letter to Mr..
Bray, dated about the end of September. 1851,
Miss Evans writes: "On Friday We had Fox
ton. Wilson and some other nice people. among
others a Mr.. Herbert Spencer. who has just
brought out a large work on Social States,
which Inwes pronounces the best book he
has seen on the subject" In another letter
TO the Brays n year later. she SAYS: II went
to the opera on Saturday at Covent Garden
with my excellent friend tHerbert Spencer),
as Iewes calls him We have agreed that
there Is no reason why We should not have
ne much Of each others society as We like.
He is a good. delightful speaker. and ] always
feel batter for being with him" Writing 10
Miss Sara Hennell, she Expresses herself thus
MY brightest spot, next to my love of old
friends, il the delicio,isly calm. ner friend
ship that Herbert Spencer gives me. We
see each other every day. and have a delight
ful cGmdrodere in everything. But for him
my life would bA deSolata enough" Again.
Herbert Spencer dined with us to-day. looks
we'll and is hrimful Of clever talk rs usual,
His volume Of 'Essa vs. is 10 come ont soon.
He Is just now on n crusade against the notion
Of Species" Perhaps the most Interesting
reference is 10 he folsid in an extract from
the diary OF George Henry Tewes, under date
Of Jan. ~, 1850: Walked along the Thames
toward Kew to meet Herbert Spencer. who
was to spend the day with us. and We chatted
with him on matters personal and philosOph-
ical. I owe him n debt Of gratitude. MY
acquaintance with him was the brightest ray
in a very dreary. wasted period OF my life,
| had given mp all ambition whatever, lived
from hand to mouth. and thought the evil
OF each day sufficient. The stimulus Of his
intellect. especially during our long walks.
reused my energy once more, and revived
my dormant love Of science. His intense
theorizing tendency was contagious, and il
was only the stimulus OF a theory which could
then have induced me to work. owe Spencer
another and deeper debt. II was through
him that I learned to know Marian--to know
her was to love her and. since then. my life
has been a new birth. To her ! owe all my
prosperity and all my happiness. God bless
her" The words last quoted may seem to
give support to the rumor once current that
Iewes supplanted Spencer in the affections
OF George Eliot. We are assured by Mr.. Mac
pherson that this is not the case and that Mr.,
Spencer's relations with the novelist rested
from first to last on the basis OF friendship
pure and simple
Attention has already been directed 10 Mr.,
Spencer's great eIpository power. With an
eye to this faculty Of Spencer's, DR. Hooker
once remarked. He talks like a book. As
we have said, however II is not to be inferred
that there il anything ike pedantry in his con
rersation. He IL as FAR a. possible removed
from the conventional conception Of a phi
losopher who IL supposed TO be so welded 10
abstract meditation as Ia be in social life the
embodiment OF dreary dulness. There is
nothing OF the dry-as-dnst about Mr.. Spencer.
The author Of this book recalls how agreeably
surprised he was at his first meeting with the
great man. lie had expected TO meet a grave
and somewhat awe-inspiring philosopher,
whose mind was 50 absorbed In study OF the
Cosmos az TO make him impatient of the triv-
ialtties Of ordinary mortal-. Instead Mr.,
Macpherson found himself in the presence
Of a bright, vivacious personality, a man OF
generous impulses. very much at home among
the actualities OF life, and, withal, briinful Of
humor. There is. We are told, no assumption
Of superiority In Mr. Spencers conversation,
II is racy, pointed. vigorous, His criticisms
OF contemporary writer's are calm suggestive
and penetrative: great as is his fame. he never
poses as an oracle or, In tarlylran style, assumes