The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-08

man existence labored upon the ela'bor-
alton of his conception.
1t has been admitted that Herbert
Spencer has more. or less successfully
correlated the whole domain OF knowi-
edge" that, while others took only
certain portion. such as biology mat
uxaI science, art, ETC., he aimed to grasp
the universe, and all but succeeded. At
all events, his differentiation and cor
relation, his analytical reasoning and
especially his synthetical fabric seems
to be the nearest approach TO compile
ton the world has ever known, and he
himself was the first to lament the un-
avoidable deficiencies, due not so much
to lack of mental grasp as to the in
validisrn which has always been a por-
ton of his life and the approaching end
of life itself.
In a quiet way he has been a hero
one might say an Intellectual hero
for he has won a victory over physical
infirmities which might have defeated
a purpose less firmly based. His first
work Social Statics," was published
in 1850. when he was 80 years of age.
and that was only the first of series
extending through the ensuing half
century with a consistent trend toward
gan in 1860 the series which eventuated
| in his Synthetic Philosophy" He COM
pleted it in 1897 and revised 1t for the
last time (probably) in 1900. His books
have never been popular. as already
stated, for only the student can find
the time necessary for reading and par
ticularly for digesting the vast work
/ he has evolved and during the earlier
years of his career he was often OPP
pressed by poverty. Social States
took Is years to record sale OF 75O
copies. and his second volume. The
Principles of Psychology" sold to the
extent of $50 copies only in IL years.
In fact, he lost $1,000 by publishing
those two books. and from a pecuniary
standpoint would have been. better ON
Enever to have published at all. But
that the pecuniary standard is the
wrong one to apply. not only in his
case. but In all comparisons of intel
llectual effort with so called success in
the mere accumulation of lucre and
that the world has been infinitely ben
Gifted by his labors. no person Of INTEL
hgence will ATTEMPT to deny.
Even at the present day he is far bet
ter known in Russia and California
than in London or Manchester. And 1t
was in America that when in 1855 there
seemed danger of his great work
being suspended through inability to
pay expenses a fund of $1,000 was col
lected by the late Professor Edward
YoumanS and invested in paying securi-
ties for the support of the talented
author. Since that time fortune has
smiled on Mr.. Spencer, and he is spend
ing his old age in comfort. The assist
ance of Professor Youmans did not end
here, for he secured a publisher for
Spencer's works in the United States,
where they have enjoyed a larger sale
than in England.
Mr.. Spencer visited the United States
in 1882, remaining from August to Mo-
, vember. He was the recipient of high
hOnOrS and many attentions. In at
least one of his after dinner speeches
of that time he consistently deprecated
the haste displayed by Americans to ac-
J quire wealth at the expense of vital en-
ergy. How his own energies have been
conserved may be inferred from the
manner in which he denies himself to
all visitors except his most intimate
, friends. He has a neatly written card
prepared in advance, stating his reasons
for not seeing casual callers or answer
ing letters, ending with, Mr.. Spencer
, hopes that this explanation will ex-
cuse him from giving more direct an
swer to your communication" etc. He
is also accused with stopping his ears
. with special plugs when he desires to
secure perfect privacy for his thoughts,
even in a crowd becoming sublimely
unconscious of what is going on around
him. He never married.