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 have rendered " out of date " a good deal of the 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