Preface 



IX 



I am fully aware that the indolent reader will Hud uuich in this 

 work which he does not want and which has but little interest for him. 

 It is intended fundamentally as a permanent memorial to the Founder 

 of the Galton Laboratoiy, and embraces material which may easily 

 perish or be ultimately lost sight of If the said reader will only wait 

 a few years, I have little doubt that my material will be strained of its 

 more solid content and presented to him in that light and cheap form, 

 which we are told is a first necessity of the modern book market. My 

 object is a different one, namely to issue a volume to some extent 

 worthy of the name of the man it bears, — which may be studied here- 

 after by those who wish to understand him, his origin and his aims, — 

 I'atljer than to furnish an evening's amusement for readers however 

 numerous, who would just as readily study any other biography as that 

 of Galton, if only it chanced to be entertaining. I have been told that 

 the genealogical section of my book will weary its readers and narrow 

 its 2)ublic. I would reply that this work is not written to gain a public, 

 hut i^iani inenioriam i^yodere conditoris /ios^rj and is intended especially 

 for those who have known and loved Francis Galton in the past, or 

 who may in the future desire to understand and honour him. 



K. r. 



The Galton Labouatouy, 

 University of London. 

 Ajtril 8, 1914. 



p. o. 



