The Man and His Work. 387 



and its author or collaborator was Mr. Youmans. I read it eagerly, 

 especially the chapter which was written by Mr. Youmans, and it 

 strongly influenced my mind in the direction of scientific studies. 

 Either on the advertising pages of the book, or elsewhere, about 

 the same time, I saw a notice of Herbert Spencer's book on 

 "Education" a book which it is hardly too much to say has 

 influenced, more tlian any other of the present century, the 

 character of our educational methods. 



In subsequent years, after I came to Brooklyn, I frequently had 

 occasion to meet Prof. Youmans, and consult with him about the 

 text^books in use in our colleges and schools. The impression 

 produced by personal acquaintance strengthened the judgment 

 which I had, formed from reading his books. His influence more 

 than any other aroused in my mind broad ideas of the Universe, 

 and started me out as an evolutionist. 



The leading characteristic in Prof. Youmans' character, as it 

 seems to me, was his hatred of pretense and shams. I remember 

 calling on him once to consult him in regard to the compilation of 

 a text-book on zoology. He indignantly, and in the sti'ongest 

 language, denounced the books then in use in the schools, declar- 

 ing that it was impossible for children to be properly educated by 

 the use of such defective tools. 



Prof. Youmans, in some of the characteristics of his mind and 

 character, strongly resembled the late Horace Greeley. Botli of 

 these men possessed admirable virtues, but both also had some 

 noticeable defects. The defect in Prof. Youmans' character, as it 

 appears to me, was that his mind was not broad enough to include 

 religion in his philosophy. He was a materialist and an agnostic; 

 whereas, in my judgment, the study of science and of Evolution 

 should emphasize the fact that all Nature, the Universe itself, and 

 the mind of man, are but shadows and symbols of an immanent 

 and self-revealing God. 



Mk. Gaerett p. Sekviss: 



I also desire to recognize my great indebtedness to Prof. You- 

 mans for his books and his popular lectures on scientific subjects, 

 Avhich awakened in my mind an interest in the physical sciences 

 that has never since weakened or grown dim. The most striking 

 characteristic of his character, as it seems to me, was his wonder- 

 ful faculty for simplifying the abstruse problems of scientific 

 research, making them clear and plain to the most uninstructed 

 mind, and by the charm of his manner awakening the interest and 

 arousing the enthusiasm of his auditors and readers. I cannot 

 believe that this faculty of popularizing science is in truth so rare 

 as it appears to be though we must admit that few eminent 

 scientific investigators have possessed it in any great degree. In 

 tliat direction must lie our progress in the future; for in order 

 tliat the beneficent influence of science may extend its sway over 

 all the earth, the people must be instructed. 



Mr. George Iles: 



While Prof. Youmans' natural powers of expression were 

 remarkable even in youth, he took pains to improve them by 

 unremitting cultivation. He well knew how much the effective- 

 ness of a thought depends upon clear and telling statement, and 

 he drilled himself carefullv in the art of makinu' difticult things 



