INTRODUCTION 



born in 1 842. Long before he entered Harvard 

 College, in i860, he was a very busy student, 

 an omnivorous reader both of general litera- 

 ture and of history. Nor were the natural sci- 

 ences neglected in those times of early boyish 

 enthusiasm for knowledge. Fiske was also a pre- 

 cocious linguist ; and when he entered college 

 his learning soon became the topic of wonder, 

 and naturally of mythology, amongst his class- 

 mates. It was consequently not surprising that 

 he was able to enter as a Sophomore in i860, 

 graduating in 1 863. While he was still a Junior, 

 nineteen years of age, he published a remarkable 

 critical article on Buckle's " History of Civili- 

 zation.'* ^ Within a few years after his gradua- 

 tion he had printed a number of different papers 

 upon philosophical and historical topics, includ- 

 ing one very interesting essay upon the reform 

 of university education.^ 



^ Republished in Darwinism and Other Essays under the 

 title ** Mr. Buckle's Fallacies." 



^ Republished in Darwinism and Other Essays. The date 

 of this paper was 1866. To 1865 belongs his review of 

 Mill's book on Comte's Positive Philosophy ; to 1868 his 

 review of Motley's History of the United Netherlands ; and 

 in 1870 fall his essays entitled respectively "The Jesus of 

 History " and *«The Christ of Dogma." These papers give 

 but a suggestion of the range and variety of his activities at 

 this time. His plans included a projected history of the be- 

 ginnings of Christianity. 



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