Characteristics 



tion, " is a mere excuse for establishing a medical tyranny. 

 And we have enough of this kind of tyranny already . . . 

 the world does not want the eugenist to set it straight. . . . 

 Eugenics is simply the meddlesome interference of an arro- 

 gant scientific priestcraft." 



Thus his radicalism and his so-called fads were born of 

 his high aspirations. He was not the recluse calmly spin- 

 ning theories from a bewildering chaos of observations, and 

 building up isolated facts into the unity of a great and illu- 

 minating conception in the silence and solitude of his library, 

 unmindful of the great world of sin and sorrow without. He 

 could say with Darwin, '^ I was born a naturalist '' ; but we 

 can add that his heart was on fire with love for the toil- 

 ing masses. He had felt the intense joy of discovering 

 a vast and splendid generalisation, which not only worked 

 a complete revolution in biological science, but has also 

 illuminated the whole field of human knowledge. Yet his 

 greatest ambition was to improve the cruel conditions under 

 which thousands of his fellow-creatures suffered and died, 

 and to make their lives sweeter and happier. His mind 

 was great enough and his heart large enough to encom- 

 pass all that lies between the visible horizons of human 

 thought and activity, and even in his old age he lived 

 upon the topmost peaks, eagerly looking for the horizon 

 beyond. In the words of the late Mr. Gladstone, he 

 " was inspired with the belief that life was a great and 

 noble calling; not a mean and grovelling thing that we 

 are to shuffle through as we can, but an elevated and lofty 

 destiny." 



But we must not be tempted into further disquisition. 

 As he grew older the public Press as well as his friends 

 celebrated his birthdays. Congratulations by telegram and 

 letter poured in upon him and gave him great pleasure, 



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