New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-08

ton. the geographical distribution Of ami
mails and other branches OF science. He
was a great authority on the land ques-
tion and was a strong advocate OF land
naturalization. He travelled In every
part of the world I'm pursuit of his studies
Alfred Russell Wallace was OF Scotch
ancestry. born at Usk. Monmouthshire,
on January s, 1923. lie was educated at
the Hartford Grammar School and with
an older brother was a land surveyor and
architect from 1888 10 1874. Then he went
to the Amazon with Bates and remained
some -eaIs. fterward he was in the
Malay Archipelago.
For half a century the naturalist
shared with Charles Darwin the credit
Of originating the theory that natural s.
lection was the force that preserved some
species and suppressed others. Wallace
met Darwin in the insect room OF the
British Museum In 1854. While living in
Borneo the same year he wrote paper
on The Law Which Has Regulated the
Introduction of New Species" and it was
published in 1850. Not until 1853, how
ever, did Wallace really arrive at the
conviction that the survival Of the fit
test" was the controlling factor He at
once sent an outline of his theory to
Darwin He showed his outline to Lyell
and Sir Joseph Hooker. and they urged
its immediate publication.
Darwin himself had embodied the doc
.rI,
1912, and in 1874 enlarged this to a paper
of 800 folio pages. Upon the advice Of
Lyell and Hooker he consented to add an
extract therefrom TO Wallace's paper
when it was presented to the Linn9an
Society. in 1858.
DR.. Wallace once said: 81 would only
wish to add that my connection with OAR
win and his great work has helped to Sc
cure for my own writings on the same
questions full recognition by the press
and the public. while my share In the
origination and establishment OF the the
DRY OF natural selection has usually been
exaggerated. The only great result which
| claim for my paper of 1858 is that 1t
compelled Darwin To write and publish
mis- origin of Species without further
delay"
Less than year ago Dr. Wallace de-
clared that the progress Of the world dur
ing the last century had resulted in
social system which was the worst the
world had ever seen. The whole system
of society ne said was rotten from the
top to the bottom" He had small pa
tience with the eugenists.
DIR. Wallace was looked upon in Eng
land as THE last OF the giants" He
belonged TO that wonderful group of in
telectuals composed of Darwin, Huxley,
Herbert Spencer Lyell, owen and other
scientists whose daring Investigations
revolutionized and evolutioniZed the
thought of the century. Though DR..
Wallace was the last survivor of the
mighty coterie mentioned. he was the
recognized leader also among the later
group of scientists who dominate the ad-
vanced thought of the present day in
England, ranking with the late Lord Kel-
win, Sir William Crookes. Sir oliver
Lodge and Professor Barrett.
He was an awkward looking man, who
seemed, so TO speak too large for him
self His clothes were so ample they
seemed to III him all over rather than at
any one place, while his shoes appeared
of the iron-clad variety, inclining TO the
Merrimac rather than 10 the Monitor
style. His bearing betokened indepen-
dence and mind far removed from con-
siderations of dress, though, with all his
apparent carelessness, there was an air
of cleanliness and neatness.
Or. Wallace was a member OF the Lon
don Spiritualist Alliance, and was long
firm believer in the survival OF human
personality after death. He was con-
WINGED of the truths of spiritualism many
years ago on investigating certain phe-
nomena produced by a woman medium
named Mrs. Marshall.
The scientist was not converted to BELIEF
in spirits however, until after long In
yestigation. Once satisfied in his own
mind, he launched boldly-for ii requires
courage even now, for a so-called sci
enlist" to admit spirit phenomena-upon
campaign of defence of things occult.
His book Miracles and Modern Spirit
ualism" brought down upon his head a
ton; but he held his ground. retracted
nothing, and succeeded in Influencing a
| large body of public opinion. With refer
ence 70 the dogmatic SCIENTIFIC view OF
the day, which seems inclined TO sheer at
things occult, Mr.. Wallace had frequently
| pointed out that academic science In the
past had made some pretty grave mis-
takes For instance, the Royal Society
itself laughed at Benjamin Franklin s
lightning rod idea; while no less person
than Sir Humphry Davy scoffed at the
possibility of lighting London by gas.
Experts" testified that Stephenson
locomotive could never be of commercial
use. as il would not be able to attain a
! speed of twelve miles an hour. All the
| world knows what scientific convention
did TO men like Calico, Harvey and other
} pioneers I'm thought. However, with men
ike Sir William Crookes. Sir oliver
Lodge, Professor Barrett and others tc
uphold him in his view of spiritualism
Or. Wallace considered himself in good
+ company.
| During his early years DR.. Wallace
was more or less of an agnostic; but
after embracing spiritualism he became
| convinced that nature is ruled by some
I intimate First Cause, and that, carrying
J out the behests of this Guiding Pur'
pose. an infinite number of spiritual
! forces are at work.
II think we have got to recognize,
once said the doctor on this point. thar
between man and the ultimate God
there is an almost infinite multitude OF