364 Edward Livingston Youmans, 



April ig, 1880. 

 I got this morning the two copies of the New York 

 Times, and read with amusement and satisfaction the ac- 

 count of the row at Yale College that has been produced 

 by the introduction of the Study of Sociology as a text- 

 book. Very probably this local fight will set going a gen- 

 eral fight, which will be highly advantageous no doubt. 



New York, May 11, 1880. 



My dear Spencer : Your suggestions regarding the 

 Yale College affair come in the nick of time. I had an 

 editorial in type on the subject which was not very satis- 

 factory, and your hints enabled me to improve it. The 

 Yale College flurry is over, so far as exciting public criticism 

 is concerned, but the antagonism is deep, and will quietly 

 deepen still more. 



I am getting sensibly stronger and feeling better, but I 

 am old, sore, and decrepit in my legs and feet. I walk, 

 however, considerably and increasingly, and hope to gain 

 permanently by it. But I suspect an early old age is upon 

 me, and that I must go tottering through my remnant of 

 days. 



I am rejoiced to hear that you are not only holding out 

 well but are advancing, so that you can again take hold. 

 Don't you think you can take your vacation next year on 

 the Rocky Mountains ? I want to cross the continent very 

 much, but hate to go alone. Meditate upon it. Our claim 

 is at least as good as that of Egypt. 



38 Queen's Gardens, Bayswater, London, May 26, 1880. 

 My dear Youmans: I was glad to have so good an 

 account of you in point of health. By all means keep up 

 your exercise. If you can do that, and increase it little by 

 little, I should think you will gradually get rid of the rem- 

 nant of mischief arising from your rheumatic affection. 



