238 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK 



CH. 



In the preface to the second series of the 

 Pleasures, he observes, after noting some other 

 criticisms passed on the first essays, that " Some 

 have complained that there is too much quota- 

 tion — too little of my own. This I take to be in 

 reality a great compliment. I have not striven 

 to be original." He continues : " If, as I have 

 been assured by many, my book has proved a 

 comfort, and has been able to cheer in the hour of 

 darkness, that is indeed an ample reward, and is 

 the utmost I have ever hoped." 



I have made rather a point of the ease with 

 which Sir John gathered these compilations, 

 because some, even of his warmest admirers, 

 have commented adversely on the making of 

 these books as a waste of time in the case of one 

 whose time might have been employed to greater 

 advantage in various other ways, and have 

 wondered that he should attach such a high value, 

 as he evidently did, to the result. But the time 

 spent on them was, as I have tried to show, but 

 trifling, and as for the result, I think that Sir 

 John would justify himself in regarding it of some 

 importance. He knew what the public wanted, 

 but he always had a care that it should be the 

 highest of its want that he supplied in such books 

 as The Pleasures of Life. He collected into a 

 convenient and readable form the thought which 

 he deemed that others would appreciate, and 

 how right his judgment was as to their apprecia- 

 tion the sales of the books in all lands show 

 sufficiently. I believe he might find his perfect 

 justification in the contention that those popular 

 books have helped many men and women of many 



