The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-03-04

herent heterogeneity; and during which
the retained Motion undergoes a parallel
transformation
The purpose Of his volumes was to
trace the application Of this law
throughout all the phenomena Of the
universe-astronomic. geologic, biolog-
ic, psychologist, sociologic. He read
comparatively little, always declaring
that II he read as much as other people
be would know as little; but his mind
was stored with knowledge which he ac-
quired somehow. and indeed the lists Of
authorities cited at the end OF his vol
umes show that he was familiar with
the writings Of those whose works bore
on his subjects.
With the theory Of evolution Darwin's
name is more widely associated than
Spencers. and Il Is generally held that
his doctrines are more solidly built and
thoroughly proved. But Darwin's work
covers far less ground-namely, biology
and some problems Of psychology. He
worked within his own ground. Il was
impossible that Spencer should have
an equally sure knowledge at first hand
Of all the vast regions that he yentured
to explore. II Il be said that in that case
he should not have ventured. the reply
is that philosophy could never have ex-
listed upon prudential maxims Il is es-
senually daring As Aristotle says, we
must not listen to those who advise us
as mortals to be content with mortal
things. The worst a philosopher can do
Is to prepare the way for others even by
his own failure. But Il would be afro
ciously unjust to call spsncer's specula-
tions 4 failure.
AS the First Principles" has run to
II 900 copies, Il must be widely known.
Anyone who has not read lt may be COM
mended to begin at the second part.
The first part Is taken up with meta
physical reasonings which do not throw
much light upon the sequel, and In which
TO tell the truth) Spencer was by no
means at his best For metaphysics Is a
literary, traditional thing, and Spencer's
reading IN such matters was not extern
siye nor even very intelligent. He was
not a booklsh man. His Imagination,
vast and subtle, delighted IN facts; and
all the facts Of the world seem 70 have
lain spread out there IN that order and
proportion which he has made known
TO us. Although It IS said that scientific
pursuits lead men to think IN symbols,
Spencer seems to have preserved an
extraordinary visualising power; and IN
spite Of the heaviness Of bis style (due
TO the practice OF dlctatlon), whether he
is treating Of geological changes. OF the
growth Of tree trunks. or the play Of hui
man thought and motive, the whole
scene Is manlfestly realized by himself
ard pictoriaily presented TO the reader.
Spencer's social ideas are not popu-
lar: he was an extreme indlviduallst
lie believed that competition IS the only
means OF insuring that the best men
shall come TO the front, and that the ef-
fciency and happiness Of mankind de-
pend upon the survival Of The fttest.
For some time. IN comparatively re-
cent years. he lived in ST. Johns Wood.
but he subsequently moved to Brighton,
where he died. He was offered lnnum-
erable honors and decorations. includ-
ing the Prussian Pour le Merite." but
It was one OF his principles to decline
them all. and he also refused a title when
offered by Queen Victoria.
At his death on December 8, 1908, he
was e3 years OF age.