lowed it steadily to the exclusion of everything else. The history of his personal life may be told in a paragraph; but who shall write the history of his books? Who can measure the influence they have already exercised upon human thought and action, and who will venture to predict the limit of their power?

It is not to be wondered at, perhaps, that social advancement involves antagonisms, since the whole process of evolution throughout nature is one of action and resistance. This is a law of social as well as physical existence. But it does seem a little remarkable that, where antagonism occurs, the interest of men is aroused in proportion to its violence. They are a great deal more observant of destruction than of constructive results. The lightning and thunder command attention, while the sun which is the life of all, sustaining all things, and upon which evolution for our planet is dependent, is scarcely considered. The "warlord," who distinguishes himself by killing his fellows, and shows prowess in battle, is the prominent figure in what is called history, while he who has moulded the opinions and conduct of men occupies an inferior position. Even in the life of a scholar like Mr. Spencer, it is his collisions with other people, prominent representatives of other schools, that make his reputation more than the still, silent work which is accomplished by the diffusion of the knowledge contained in his books,

though it extend from London to San Francisco, and in the other direction to the interior of Siberia, where George Kennan found copies of his writings, somewhat mutilated, indeed, by the Russian censor. But the power which secures the world's progress is assimilative, and, though conflict may be necessary to prepare the way, it is the silent and peaceful forces which, after all, convert the nations. The influence of the great philosopher, though he be not a conspicuous figure of the political or social life of his age, is pervasive, stimulating to activity, far-reaching in time, and works powerfully and effectively even where we are not able to trace it.

Mr. Spencer's writings met with neglect, and then condemnation. His systematic treatises were published at his own expense, and the original plan adopted was of a serial issued to subscribers. The publications did not pay, and their author was discouraged by the fact that they were

eating up his substance and bringing in nothing. The most important impulse toward success was given to them by our own countryman, Prof. Edward L. Youmans, who, as an English friend said to me, really discovered Spencer. This discovery was accomplished, as Prof. Youmans himself tells us, through reading the "Principles of Psychology." Of this, even he could make nothing at first, and he threw it aside with some impatience. But his sister, Miss Eliza A. Youmans, took up the discarded volume, read it with care, and told her brother that it was a new revelation in philosophy. In truth, then, we ought to say it was Miss Youmans who discovered Spencer. Her brother, however, soon. came to realize the importance of the discovery, and did quite enough to vindicate his claim to a partner's share of the credit. He interested himself practically in promoting the circulation of Mr. Spencer's works. The Messrs. Appleton, through his efforts, took up their publication, and for the first time a character and standing were given to them, in some degree commensurate with their importance.

Little by little recognition came, until by-and-by it dawned upon the thinking world that Herbert Spencer was the foremost philosopher of his day. It is gratifying to know that, after a while, his books began to yield him an income (though by no means a large one), and this is the case at the present time.*

Mr. Spencer is a bachelor. Evidently he has had no time to get married. He was not, however, a recluse, till obliged to be by the exigences of his work and the necessity of caring for his health. In 1879 I missed the pleasure of meeting him at a dinner party, because, as he wrote, he had engaged to take two ladies to the opera that evening. Observe that he took two ladies; he knew how to protect himself; it is a mistake to suppose that philosophers are never practical! He has always entered into social life as

* It is a mistake to suppose that Mr. Spencer was ever in a condition of poverty. He saw, however, that his expenditures for the publication of his works would necessarily soon exhaust his means, and was distressed, not on account of immediate wants, but with the prospect of having to abandon his cherished undertaking. The exact circumstances of the rendering of American assistance for the completion of his works were set forth in a letter written by Prof. Youmans to the New York Tribune, in June, 1872. About $7000 was raised by American friends for this purpose. The amount was accepted by Mr. Spencer, "as a trust to be used for public ends," and was employed chiefly to defray the expenses attendant upon the compilation of the tables of the "Descriptive Sociology."

much as he could without interfering with his work, and has been a welcome and an agreeable guest in many households.

His most regular associations of this sort have been at the Athenæum Club, which is instituted, in the language of its constitution, "for the association of individuals known for their scientific or literary attainments, artists, of eminence in any class of fine arts, and noblemen and gentlemen distinguished as liberal patrons of science, literature or the arts." The Athenæum gives the privileges of its home to such non-residents as its Committee of Invitation may select, for the period of their sojourn in London. If I may be pardoned personal references, it was my good fortune to be honored with this limited membership at one time, and, happening to be writing home to a gentleman who was an editor, I mentioned various items regarding my stay in London, among others my frequenting the Athenæum. To offset any possible suggestion to his mind that I spoke of this from motives of vanity, I put in my letter, with the proper quotation-marks and exclamation-point, the jocose remark of an English friend in describing the Club, that it was "composed of distinguished people at home and less-distinguished people from abroad." I think my correspondent must have been of Scotch ancestry: but, whatever may have been his pedigree, my feelings may be imagined when I afterwards saw, in my friend's paper, a paragraph setting forth seriously, and without the quotation-marks and exclamation-point, that "Mr. D. G. Thompson had been elected a member of the Athenæum in London, a Club which is composed of distinguished people at home and less-distinguished people from abroad"!

The Athenæum includes people of all sorts of opinions. Men are there of as wide differences in religion as are exemplified in Cardinal Manning and Frederick Harrison; or in politics as in Lord Salisbury, Earl Selborne and Joseph Chamberlain. It naturally follows, especially when we consider that the membership of the Club is twelve hundred, that social intercourse within its pale lies in groups formed according to affiliations proceeding from sympathies in ideas, or in work. Mr. Spencer's friends are chiefly those in scientific or philosophical pursuits, among whom Huxley and Tyndall are the most intimate. It is his usual habit to visit the Club-house every day about three o'clock. Al

though the library and study rooms afford facilities for work he rarely uses them for that purpose, his hours at the Club being devoted to relaxation and recreation. Billiards constitute his favorite amusement, and he generally is found, with his coat off, in the room assigned for that sport, when the visitor sends the hall-boy to seek him. Whether he plays well, or ill, I do not know; but such men are not apt to make a failure of anything they attempt, and it is creditable to be excellent in billiards if one chooses to play the game. Besides, if one is able to win, it is usually a saving of expense!

Mr. Spencer is a ready conversationalist, very accurate and exact in his expressions. As Dr. Hooker once said to Professor Youmans, "He talks like a book." This characteristic does not strike one as pedantry, and is by no means unpleasant, though it puts the interlocutor on his guard respecting carelessness in his own words. He is at home on all topics of current interest, as well as on those specially appertaining to his studies. He is a keen critic, but not censorious, nor does he seem to entertain or cherish animosities. Nevertheless he is very combative; too much so for his own good. He is fond of striking back at his critics, and has more than once turned aside from his work to take notice of strictures upon his views, when there was little utility in so doing. His controversy with Frederick Harrison is a case in point. However interesting this may be to readers, it after all seems a waste of words. The position of neither thinker was made any clearer, nor was either converted by the other. Nor, I presume, was any one else converted by either, while much of Mr. Spencer's supremely valuable time was consumed in preparing the letters. The latter has that genuinely British trait of character which causes a man to stand up for his rights, and to resist what he deems aggression. Prof. Youmans says he was a disobedient boy sometimes, and that he never would stand bullying at school. No more will he stand it in the journals and reviews. His sensitiveness to invasions upon his personality subjected him to sore trials upon his visit to America. Prof. Youmans, however, managed him well, and was a happy mediator between the sick man who wanted to be let alone, and the impatient public anxious to see and hear the philosopher they honored. The interviewer's attempts were disagreeable, persistence in proffered hospi

tality on the part of new acquaintances was annoying; but what drove him nearly frantic was the desire of people, in some places manifested, to look at him as they would look at a fine animal at the agricultural fair. The culmination. of this latter outrage was reached, I regret to say, in my native State, at Burlington, Vermont, the home of Minis-ter Phelps and Senator Edmunds. His arrival having been announced in the daily paper, quite a number of people called to pay their respects, and a little demonstration in his honor was threatened. Mr. Spencer however, tired and ill, had gone to his room, leaving orders that he could see no one and must not be disturbed. The people would not. be appeased, and to his great horror a party of them went to his door, knocked, and, when it was opened, told him that they had come to see him and see him they would.. His traveling companion remonstrated, but they were many and Mr. Spencer had no gun. They took their look and departed, but of conversation they had none. You may force a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink. No wonder that, after this, Mr. Spencer came to entertain a fear respecting the permanency of our institutions, and to remark, concerning our people, "The American has not, I think, a sufficiently quick sense of his own claims, and, at the same time, as a necessary consequence, not a sufficiently quick sense of the claims of others,- for the two traits are organically related. I observe that you tolerate various small interferences and dictations which Englishmen are prone to resist. I am told that the English are remarked on for their tendency to grumble in such cases; and I have no doubt it is true."

66 Do you think it worth while," asks the interviewer, "for people to make themselves disagreeable by resenting every trifling aggression? We Americans think it involves too much loss of time and temper, and doesn't pay."

"Exactly," replies Mr. Spencer; "that is what I mean by character. It is this easy-going readiness to permit small trespasses, because it would be troublesome or profitless, or unpopular to resist, which leads to the habit of acquiesence in wrong and the decay of free institutions."*

One time, at the Athenæum club, I was introduced by Mr. Spencer to Mr. Matthew Arnold, in the lunch-room.

*"Herbert Spencer in America." D. Appleton & Co. 1883.