694. THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ment of general society. It made him timid and hesitating, and often 

 occasioned awkward and most embarrassing mistakes although he was 

 by nature the most sociable and genial of men, and delighted in society 

 where he felt at ease. 



He published a book in 1853 entitled "Alcohol and the Constitu- 

 tion of Man," which grew out of an article of his on the " license 

 system," covering a full page of the "New York Tribune." His argu- 

 ment was based upon the view, put forth by eminent scientists, that 

 alcohol is in all cases a brain-poison. The temperance people urged 

 him to make a book of it, which he accordingly did ; but further 

 knowledge of the subject made him uncertain of his ground, and the 

 work was allowed to pass out of print. 



In illustration of his dependence upon others at every step of his 

 life, it may be stated that in 1853 a younger brother returned from a 

 four-years' residence in California, and, being unsettled as to his fu- 

 ture, was persuaded to undertake the establishment of an experiment- 

 al farm at Saratoga. But, before matters had taken shape, it became 

 apparent that the young man could not be content with the quiet la- 

 bors for which there had been neither emotional nor intellectual prep- 

 aration, and the enterprise was abandoned. Feeling the importance, 

 in the light of this experience, of early scientific culture, Edward did all 

 in his power to promote the scientific education of a much younger 

 brother, who many years later began with him the management of 

 this magazine, and without whose co-operation it would not have been 

 attempted. 



In 1856 Edward read in a foreign periodical a review of Herbert 

 Spencer's "Psychology," which had been published the year before ; 

 and his interest was so aroused that he at once imported the book. This 

 led to a correspondence with the author concerning the publication in 

 this country in book form of his essays on education, with the result 

 that D. Appleton & Co. brought out the work in 1858. Thus began 

 my brother's acquaintance with Mr. Spencer, and co-operation in the 

 publication of his writings, which was kept up to the end. In 1859 he 

 accidentally got hold of a copy of the English programme of Spencer's 

 "System of Philosophy," which was to be issued in parts to yearly sub- 

 scribers. Edward immediately wrote to Mr. Spencer, volunteering to 

 aid the project in this country, and was informed that it would require 

 two hundred and fifty more subscribers, in addition to those already 

 secured in England, to justify the expense of an American edition. 

 The needed names were soon secured ; and an arrangement was also 

 made with the Messrs. Appleton to reprint Mr. Spencer's earlier works. 

 From the beginning of his acquaintance with these writings, my 

 brother was convinced that they were destined to exercise great in- 

 fluence in this country, and this opinion has been fully confirmed. 



Of my brother's experience as a lecturer, there is little room here 

 to speak. He early showed an aptitude for making scientific subjects 



