REVIEWS 339 



We learn from the present Mr. Murray that his father's chief study- 

 was that of geology, to which he devoted considerable time in the earlier 

 part of his career ; but, in addition, he took a deep interest in arboriculture 

 and horticulture. One is accustomed to picture a student sitting alone 

 in his study in perfect quiet ; but Mr. Murray says that " he never had a 

 study of his own, but preferred to work"— and he worked almost every evening 

 — "in the midst of a family party, working, talking, or playing games, which, 

 however, never seemed to disturb him." These few words recall to one's 

 mind the method of composing of Sebastian Bach, and leads one to- 

 deplore afresh the modern conditions which bring in their train such a stress 

 on the nervous system. In the following passages the present Mr. Murray 

 bears witness to the worth of his father's character : " My father had an 

 unusual faculty for seeing the good in people from whom he differed absolutely 

 on politics, religion, and other subjects, and being on the most friendly 

 terms with them." " His generosity was shown, not only in gifts of books,, 

 but in lavish help to all sorts of good causes. He served from the first on 

 the committee for the decoration of St. Paul's ; and when Bishop Thorold 

 started his great scheme for the evangelisation of the slums of his diocese 

 (now the South London Church Fund), it was my father who suggested ta 

 him to include in it the poor district of South Wimbledon, which had sprung 

 up like a mushroom under his eyes. He had noticed with dismay the growth 

 of its mean streets and population in the course of his work as a J. P. The 

 formation of a new parish, the salaries of workers, and the building of the 

 Church of All Saints, were all abundantly helped by him, as an inscription 

 in the church now testifies. The amount given by him to private cases of 

 distress, whether poor authors or others, will never be known." The fol- 

 lowing extract will interest scientific readers : " When the MS. of the Origin 

 oj Species was submitted, my father showed it to his intimate friend, George 

 Pollock (a son of the old Chief Baron), who strongly urged him to publish, 

 it. He took the advice, though in those days it required some courage 

 to act upon it. Charles Darwin was one of the most courteous and modest 

 of authors. I was present when he called, in 1887, with a MS. in his hands, 

 and said, ' Here is a work which has occupied me for many years and 

 interested me much. I fear the subject of it will not attract the public, but 

 will you publish it for me ? ' My father replied, ' It always gives me 

 pleasure and hope to hear an author speak of his work thus. What is the: 

 subject ? ' ' Earth-worms,' said Darwin. The book was duly published, 

 and six editions were called for in less than a year." 



Peetickay, an Essay towards the Abolition of Spelling. By Wilfred 

 Perrett. [Pp. 97.] (Cambridge : W. Heffer & Sons, 1920. Price 

 65. net.) 

 Spelling reform has now been before us for some three centuries^without 

 success. One reason for the failure is that no decision has yet been reached 

 as to which of the many systems of writing proposed in place of the existing 

 system is the best one ; and, naturally, the public is not likely to make 

 any change until this point has been settled. The chief difficulties are that 

 we have some eleven elementary vowel-sounds, but only five vowel-symbols 

 wherewith to write them ; that our homophones are numerous ; that our 

 dialects are many ; and that it would be a loss to the world to change the 

 original form of our Greek and Latin words, which we now retain, though 

 we mispronounce these words themselves. The courses open to us are :■ 

 (i) to adopt an entirely new and scientific writing, say some shorthand 

 or Persian character based on the principle of Bell's " Visible Speech " ; 

 (2) to use Roman or Greek characters with modifications where required, 

 such as (a) new letters, or (&) diacritics, or (c) digraphs, or {d) a positional^ 

 system, like that of our present spelling, but rendered regular. 



