PREFACE TO COMPLETE EDITION 



(1920) 



IN looking over this volume, first published 

 in 1889, with a view to a final Edition, 

 I am glad to note that after all there is not 

 much in it requiring alteration. Considering that 

 the original issue took place more than 30 years 

 ago, I had thought that the great changes in 

 scientific and philosophic thought which have 

 taken place during that period would probably 

 have rendered " out of date " a good deal of the 

 book. ' 



As a matter of fact, the first paper — that on 

 Civilisation — was given as a lecture before the 

 Fabian Society, in 1888 ; and I shall not easily 

 forget the furious attacks which were made upon 

 it on that occasion. The book — published as 

 a whole in 1889 — came in for a very similar re- 

 ception from the press-critics. They slated it 

 to the top of their bent — except in those not 

 unfrequent cases when they ignored it as almost 

 beneath notice. The whole trend of the thought 

 of the time was against its conclusions ; and it 

 is perhaps worth while to recall these facts in 



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