240 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



any moment. Under the regime of snch institntions, the object of 

 social activity is not, I repeat, the destruction but the conservation 

 of life and property. The man seeking to supply his own wants 

 can do so most effectively only as he supplies the wants of his fel- 

 lows — that is to say, in striving for his own happiness, he must, in 

 spite of greed or indifference, aid in their attainment to the same state 

 of content. But the prevalence of misery about him tends to 

 pain him as it does its victims, and only as he helps them to escape 

 it can he do so himself. Therefore, the very necessities of existence 

 do not simply constrain him to imdertake in the myriad forms of 

 industrial enterprise what will contribute most powerfully to his own 

 happiness, they constrain him also to undertake in the myriad forms 

 of charitable enterprise what will alleviate most perfectly the suffer- 

 ings of those less fortunate than himself. Thus, while peace and 

 industry compel the abandonment of every vice that leads to barba- 

 rism, they compel the observance of every virtue that leads to civili- 

 zation. 



What the duty of people is must now be as plain as it is simple. 

 They should set their faces resolutely against any extension of the au- 

 thority of the state. With all the strength at their command they 

 should work to abridge as much as possible the authority with which 

 it has already been wrongfully intrusted. Only by voluntary effort, 

 such as is exhibited in every private industrial and charitable enter- 

 prise ever undertaken, should they attempt a solution of the problems 

 of life. ]^o one then will be called upon to surrender without his 

 consent either his property or his freedom. 



Among the extracts from the diary of Sir Andrew Croinbie Ramsny, 

 given in Sir Archibald Geikie's Memoir, is this pretty picture of a group of 

 famous men of science at play. Ramsay was at Darwin's, and the oUicrs 

 were his fellow-guests : " Rose betimes, had a walk in the gardens, and 

 came in to breakfast. . . . After lunch, Forbes, Owen, Lyell, and I had a 

 walk in Sir John Lubbock's park, and saw a number of things pleasant to 

 look upon, in spite of a tendency to drizzling. Nice, cozy chat, too, before 

 dinner. Darwin is an enviable man— a pleasant place, a nice wife, a nice 

 family, station neither too high nor too low, a good moderate fortune, and 

 the command of his own time. After tea Mrs. Darwin and one of her sis- 

 ters played some of Mendelssohn's duets, etc., all very charming. I never 

 enjoyed myself more. Forbes came to ray I'oom before going to bed and 

 gave me a sketch of his coming lecture on generic centers. Lyell is a much 

 more amusing man than I gave him credit for. Mrs. Lyell is a charming 

 person — pretty, and full of faith in and admiring her husband. Mr. and 

 Mrs. Lj^ell told some capital stories about America, but on the whole all 

 tending to the honor of America. He is quite enthusiastic about it, espe- 

 cially in all that relates to the liberal spirit of the New Englanders. Boston 

 seems to be in all the world his favorite city." 



