242 FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



for the moment what was clear to the poet, 

 and seems to an outsider to exhibit a little 

 too much cocksureness. 



The prevailing philosophy of the time is 

 the evolution philosophy of Herbert Spen 

 cer, brilliantly illustrated, in a part of its 

 field, by the observations and demonstra 

 tions of Charles Darwin upon biological 

 questions in regard to the origin and devel 

 opment of species. Mr. Spencer s theory 

 harmonizes with the great mass of facts 

 which have been accumulated through the 

 ages, and the grasp of his mind is so great, 

 and the extent of his labours has been so 

 enormous, that he has compelled the admi 

 ration and enthusiastic devotion of a large 

 number of our scientific men. You remem 

 ber what Matthew Prior says : 



Be to her virtues very kind ; 

 Be to her faults a little blind. 



This we are bound to do in regard to Mr. 

 Spencer, but, on the other hand, we ought 

 to remember that in the nature of things, a 

 stupendous work such as that which Mr. 

 Spencer is engaged upon is bound to con 

 tain errors, and the ready recognition of 

 this fact would be a safer attitude on the 

 part of those of us who feel ourselves his 



