The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-10
HERBERT SPENCER


present day prominence To be Z
great Victorian in itself is a title TO glory
fer only the Augustan age in Rome. the
age of Pericies in Athens and the Eliza
bethan age in England can rival it in It's
brilliant array of poets, artists. states
men. historians, and scientists.
Especially was it great in science, and
Herbert Spencer was among the great
est of its scientists. He sands as enc OF
that extraordinary quartet which forced
John Bull and the Philistine at large to
accept the doctrines of evolution that
have practically reyolutionized the entire
world of modern thought.
1t was Charles Robert Darwin who first
gave scientific cohesion and precision 10
the doctrine of 1859 by his Descent OF
Man and his Origin Of Species" lie
was ably assisted by his first and chief
converts, John Tyndan. Thomas Huxley
and Herbert Spencer. Tyndall developed
it on the side OF physics Huxley brought
new evidences for it from his studies in
biology. Herbert Spencer emphasized and
enlarged 1t on the side Of social science.
In fact on the basis OF what is row
known in philosophical slang as natural
test. he produced an absolutely new phi
lisophy Of social science which is general
~ accepted by the thinking world
The author Of this comprehensive revo-
luton was born in the first quarter Of the
century (April p. 1920, the son Of poor
schoolmaster in Derby. He had few early
advantages. His education comprised only
a smattering of the dead languages and
no knowledge Of the living ones. not even
German, the lack Of which he freely de-
pIcred. In his seventeenth year he be-
sArxe an engineer a..j followed that call
ing ror eight years.
In his leisure hours he interested him
self in the study OF social science, the first
fruits Of which appeared in 1865. in so
n c1at States" book which appearing
-FOUR years before the Origin Of the Spe-
c1es." dinly anticipated some OF Oar
wins conclusions-for it purportod to in
ferpret the phenomena or mind on the
general principle OF evolution.
The book was received with curiosity
and approved by the learned and progress
give. and the conservative. The Darwinian
controversy. which set all England by the
ears, attracted a certain sensational re-
lectures and miscellaneous writings, was
gradually pushing himself forward as
one Of the most energetic and able ad-
vocates Of the new doctrines
Best OF all. he lived to see the world
which on it's lower but more nume-ously
populated levels had been inclined TO boot
at him, turn around and applaud him as
one Of the greatest Intellectual leaders Of
his time. His eight:e;h birthday. in 1900.
was greeted with q chorus of praise in
which all the civilized world Joined
But it is praise more than pudding
which Mr.. Spencer received from the civ
ilized world. He has told us that for The
first twenty years his publishing, instead
Of enriching him, cost him money. Even
at the rosest part of his latter period the
philosophers bank hook looked petty
enough compared with that of any popu-
lar novelist who happened TO be the fad
OF the hour.
Mr. Spencer did not desire riches, but
NJ felt sadly Iampered by his inability to
make money sufficient for tho purpose of
continuing his studies at ease. and there
was bitter ring to his preface to The
Principles OF Psychology" in which he
found that Up 10 that time he had been
materially impoverished by his published
works
Should the day ever come" he con-
cludes. when the love for the PERSONAL
ties of history is less than the desire fer
its instructive facts greater those who oc-
cupy themselves in picking out the gold
rom the dross will perhaps be able to
$ 5lish their results without in1ictin5
On themselves too grievous to be borne
nay, may possibly receive some thanks
for their pains
Herbert Spencer was one Of the most
simple ard transformations of men He
repeatedly declined academic honors from
universities and colleges ard titular hon
ors which Queen Victoria was willing TO
bestow upon him. with. it must be con-
fessed. a somewhat niggard hand. She
who made Disraeli an Earl never Of
fered to make Spencer anything higher
than a baronet. But in truth the earl
dom would have been even more distaste-
fuI to him than the baronetcy.
\ friend. writing of him as he was in
his first appearance in London in 1878.
says that with his rudy complexion and
vigorous frame he gave the impression
OF being a young country gentleman OF
the sporting farmer class When dis
cussion arose, however, he gave a hint Of
his quality. His manner was earnest,
and he argued as a man who had care
fully thought out his convictions"
Al this time Herbert Spencer. having
given up civil engineering. because thu
crash in railroad enterprises, had forced
him out Of work. vas a sub-editor on the
London Economist. and a contributor to
the Leader, weekly paper, establish d
by Thorntoil Hunt and George Henry
Lewes.
Thornton Hunt was a son Of Leigh
Hunt. but. is chiefly remembered as the
man who ran away with Lewes' first wife.
and thus established a justification for
Lewas subsequent relations with the
brillian woman now famous as George
Eliot.
III was Herbert Spencer. however. who
e.rst presented George Lewes to George
Eliot The latter was then OEo) = sub
editor on the Westmins-cr Review. living
e. ;he family Of the editor. Or. John
Chapman. Herbert Spencer was her great
Ciend. and he certainly did as much as
.-ewes himself TO awaken and stimulate
her intelligence 1t is said that he was in
love with her. 1t is only certain that h
was never in love with amy one else and
that he never married.
IN his early days Spencer had shown
Inventive talent. He constructed veloc-
imeter. TO indicate the speed OF locomo-
tives. and long before Francis Cation pro
dUced composite photographs Spencer had
suggested the idea and pointed oUi its