SKETCH OF HERBERT SPENCER. 621 



he sought to secure objects not usually recognized in the niethod of 

 this study. He prej)ared for the use of beginners a little manual en- 

 titled " Inventional Geometry," ' consisting of questions and prob- 

 lems designed to familiarize the pupil with geometrical conceptions, 

 and to exercise his inventive caj)acity in actual and accurate con- 

 structions with the use of simple instruments. 



It was in this discreet way, never crowding or cramming, but 

 kindling his interest and leaving him much to himself, that Mr. Spen- 

 cer conducted the education of his son. 



When Herbert was three years of age, his father's health having 

 broken down, he was compelled to give up his school, and removed to 

 Nottingham. He here entered into the manufacture of lace by ma- 

 chinery, which was just then the rage. 



Herbert was the only surviving child, and his health was so deli- 

 cate that his parents had. little hope of raising him. As a lad his 

 healtli was not strong, although he was not ill ; his constitution being 

 well balanced but not hardy. His father, fearing that he would give 

 way under strain, did not jiress him to study. Three years were 

 spent at Nottingham, in which the boy attended, for a short time, a 

 common day-school kept by a mistress. 



When Herbert was between six and seven the family returned to 

 Derby, but Mr. Spencer did not resume his school ; he took to private 

 teaching. The lad did not read until he was seven. The first book 

 to which he was attracted was " Sanford and Merton." When, after- 

 ward, he went to school, he was very inattentive and idle, having a re- 

 pugnance to lesson-learning, and never reciting a lesson correctly that 

 was leai-ned by rote. He was, however, leniently dealt witli, his father 

 probably directing that he should not be urged. During boyhood he 

 was greatly given to playing games, fishing, birds-nesting, country 

 rambles, gathering wild fruits and mushrooms all Saturday after- 

 noons being turned to such purposes. Apart from school-studies, his 

 father early led him into drawing, especially from objects. During 

 this same period he encouraged him to keep insects through their 

 transformations, and for years the finding and rearing of caterpil- 

 lars, the catching and preserving of winged insects were constant 

 and enjoyed occupations. He was also incited to make drawings of 

 these insects. He rarely made friends of bigger boys, being intoler- 

 ant of any thing like bullying. But his father mentions the fact in 

 one of his letters that the younger boys were very fond of him ; im- 

 plying, perhaps, that while he would not be imposed upon by his el- 

 ders, he did not bully his juniors. The latter part of his school-days 

 at Derby was passed at a school set up by an uncle who, also having 

 rational ideas of teaching, carried out his father's views. Among 

 some dozen or so of boys he was characterized as backward in things 

 requiring memory and recitation, but as in advance of the rest in in- 



' Now in the press of D. Appleton & Co. 



