18 Herbert Spencer. 



borers therein. We appreciate and admire the work of the 

 scientist who increases the stock of human learning in any 

 of its departments. Agassiz, Darwin, Huxley, Tyndall, Wal- 

 lace, and all the host of them, awaken our gratitude and 

 command our reverence. But though we have traveled 

 much in these realms of gold, 



"And many goodly states and kingdoms seen," 



profounder emotions are stirred when we contemplate Mr. 

 Spencer and his work. We think no longer of the ingen- 

 ious mechanisms and marvelous adaptations of nature ; the 

 wonderful order, the many beauties, the curious things re- 

 vealed and displayed for our observation and study. Rath- 

 er, it seems as if barriers were suddenly thrown down, and 

 a vision opened of boundless knowledge and exhaustless 

 being. Then, our past experience becomes merely the arch 

 where-thro' 



" Gleams that untraveled world whose margin fades 

 Forever and forever when we move." 



Then feel we, rather, 



' ' Like some watcher of the skies 

 When a new planet swims into his ken." 



Or, again, like Cortes, 



"When with eagle eyes 

 He stood at the Pacific, and all his men 

 Looked at each other with a wild surmise, 

 Silent upon" that "peak in Darien."* 



* Besides what comes from the personal knowledge of the writer, the author- 

 ity for statements of facts in the foregoing essay may be found in two articles 

 on Herbert Spencer and his works in the "Popular Science Monthly," one in 

 the issue of November, 1874, the other in the issue of March, 1876, both by the 

 late Prof. Edward L. Yonmans, and also in the paper entitled "Herbert Spen- 

 cer and the Doctrine of Evolution," in Cazelles' "Evolution Philosophy," pub- 

 lished by D. Appleton & Co. in 1875. The writer wishes furthermore to ac- 

 knowledge his indebtedness to Miss Eliza A. Youmans for several valuable 

 suggestions. 



