ship ; Heroes ol [ndustry ; The Causes of Persecution v 

 The Origins of Protestantism; The True Lesson of 

 Protestantism; Evolution and Religion; The Meaning 

 of Infancy ; A Universe of Mind-Stuff; In Memoriam : 

 Charles Darwin. 



Among our thoughtful essayists there are none more brilliant 

 than Mr. John Fiske. His pure style suits his clear thought. He 

 does not write unless he has something to say ; and when he does 

 write he shows not only that he has thoroughly acquainted himself 

 with the subject, but that he has to a rare degree the art of so 

 massing his matter as to bring out the true value of the leading 

 points in artistic relief. It is this perspective which makes his 

 work such agreeable reading even on abstruse subjects, and has 

 enabled him to play the same part in popularizing Spencer in this 

 country that Littre" performed for Comte in France, and Dumont 

 for Bentham in England. The same qualities appear to good ad- 

 vantage in his new volume, which contains his later essays on his 

 favorite subject of evolution. . . . They are well worth reperusaL 

 The Nation (New York). 



These essays are all full of thought and worthy of preservation, 

 while several of them are entitled to rank among the very best es- 

 says of American writers. For depth of thought, scholarship, lit- 

 erary taste, critical ability, and the power of clear and vigorous 

 exposition combined, Mr. Fiske has no equal in this country and 

 but few equals among European writers. He does not write on a 

 subject until he has acquainted himself with it ; and then he pre- 

 sents his thought, which often has the merit of originality, with a 

 lucidness and attractiveness of style which make it easy to follow 

 him in his treatment of even difficult topics. It is a pleasure to 

 turn from our merely literary writers to the essays of Mr. Fiske, 

 whose clear thought, discriminating judgment, and philosophic 

 spirit, together with his fine taste and perspicuity of style, make 

 his writings both instructive and entertaining. Index (Boston). 



The vividness and directness of the style is second only to the 

 bracing and stimulating quality of the matter. This book comes 

 nearer than anything we now think of among American publica- 

 tions to successfully popularizing the results of science without 

 debilitating or misinterpreting the same. The first papers of the 

 book particularly emulate the clearness of Huxley. ... It com- 

 pels assent to the dreaded " new way of looking at things," but in 

 such a way that when the assent is given the dread is all gone. It 

 is a good book for the busy preacher on account of its wealth oi* 

 facts, so arranged as to reveal the thought that lies back of each 

 fact. Each conclusion suggests a lesson. Unity (Chicago). 



Mr. Fiske, under the above title, makes his excursions through 

 the realms of science, and evolves " evolution " in a most admirable 

 manner physical and psychical by the " testimony of the rocks," 

 and with wonderful wisdom explains the origin of matter and man 

 go truthfully possible that it is accepted as exceedingly probable, 

 if not certain, by the thoughtful reader. It is fascinating to read 

 his pioofs and speculations upon a subject grown so interesting, and 



