PREFACE. Vll 



ledge of ancient and modern literature, and great editorial 

 experience, were well known to my late friend Professor 

 Groom Eobertson, during his successful editorship of the 

 first series of 'Mind.' 



Mr S. Oliver Roberts, M.A., of the Merchant Taylors' 

 School, has kindly read over the fourth, aiid Professor 

 Phillips Bedson, of the Durham College of Science of this 

 city, the last, chapter of this volume. The Introduction has 

 greatly benefited by a thorough revision by my brother- 

 in-law, Dr Spence Watson, a master of the English language. 



I must also thank him and Dr Thomas Hodgkin for 

 having given me what I value as much as assistance 

 namely, encouragement. 



One indeed to whom I am in this respect more indebted, 

 perhaps, than to any one else whom to have known has 

 meant, for many, a revelation of the power of mind and 

 the reality of spirit is no more : Ernst Curtius. While 

 I was writing the last pages of this volume, in which he 

 took a warm interest, the tidings arrived that he had passed 

 away. But she who was nearest and dearest to him is 

 still with us a true priestess of the higher life, who has 

 kept burning in the soul of many a youthful friend the 

 spiritual fire when it was in danger of being quenched by 

 the growing materialism of our age. 



J. THEO. MERZ. 



THE QUARRIES, 

 NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, November 1896. 



