Last Years. 393 



It is well, however, that you can take so calm a view of 

 the matter as your description and reflections imply; and 

 it may be that, when life has to be carried on under the 

 conditions you describe, the desire for continuance of it 

 may fitly decrease. "What is the use of more to-days ?" 

 asks Emerson, referring to days of ordinary life. And if, 

 as one feels in the latter part of life, even under conditions 

 of tolerable health, more days are not particularly to be 

 longed for, it seems reasonable enough that when they 

 bring only suffering and weariness one may feel no great 

 anxiety for prolongation. 



. . . Whatever comes, we may at any rate, both of us, 

 have some satisfaction in the consciousness of having done 

 our work conscientiously, prompted by high motives; and 

 whenever it ends, the friendship between us may be looked 

 back upon by the survivor as one of the valued things of 

 his life. 



But more letters may still pass between us, my dear old 

 friend; and in that anticipation I continue yours, with very 

 affectionate regard, HERBERT SPENCER. 



BRIGHTON, September 77, 1886. 



I should like to have a report of your state. The last 

 account, which came to me through your brother, seemed 

 to imply that he and those around you were almost hope- 

 less of any improvement, and were looking forward with 

 greatly depressed feelings. 



Whenever I have thought of you of late I have thought 

 of you as suffering under your sultry August weather bad 

 enough to bear by one in health, and dreadful to bear by 

 one whose lungs are in large measure incapacitated. It 

 must have been a grievous trial, and I wonder you have 

 borne it. With affectionate regards and sympathies, 



Ever yours, HERBERT SPENCER. 



