200 Edward Livingston Youmans. 



forthwith be raised by subscription for the express 

 purpose of repairing the loss already incurred, and 

 thus enabling Mr. Spencer to go on with his work. 

 Once let this difficulty of a day be surmounted, and 

 the path of the new philosophy would soon become 

 straight and easy. It is delightful to remember the 

 vigour with which our dear friend took up this task. 

 It was more of " his kind of work," and, as usual, it was 

 successful. The sum of seven thousand dollars was 

 raised and invested in American securities in Mr. 

 Spencer's name. If he did not see fit to accept these 

 securities, they would go w^ithout an owner. The best 

 Waltham watch that could be procured was presented 

 to Mr. Spencer by his American friends ; a letter, 

 worded with rare delicacy and tact, was written by 

 the late Robert Minturn ; and Youmans, who was 

 going to England to publish there his Culture de- 

 manded by Modern Life, took the watch to Spencer. 

 It was a charming scene on a summer day in an Eng- 

 lish garden when the great philosopher was apprised 

 of what had been done. It was so skilfully managed 

 that he could not refuse the tribute without seeming 

 churlish. He therefore accepted it, and applied it to 

 extending his researches in descriptive sociology. 



In this connection the following extracts are inter- 

 esting : 



New York, January 2, 1866. 



Dear Sister : Sixty-five is in its grave, and we start 

 fresh with a new year. In my last two letters I have indi- 

 cated in a vague way what I am about. I made up my 

 mind to make a drive in the direction of a cash testimonial 

 to Mr. Spencer that should cover his loss of $5,500 since 

 he commenced publication. Having myself decided upon 

 it, I drew up a circular, a copy of which I send to you (care 



