xxxiv] SOCIALISM 267 



baseless, while the inevitable results of such a social state in 

 giving to every human being the necessaries, the comforts, the 

 harmless luxuries, and the highest refinements and social 

 enjoyments of life were made equally clear. As the mere 

 story had engrossed much of my attention, I read the whole 

 book through again to satisfy myself that I had not over- 

 looked any flaw in the reasoning, and that the conclusion was 

 as clearly demonstrated as it at first sight appeared to be. 

 Even as a story I found it bore a second almost immediate 

 perusal, a thing I never felt inclined to give any book before 

 (except, I think, in the case of Herbert Spencer's "Social 

 Statics " ), and during the succeeding year I read it a third 

 time, in order to refresh my memory on certain suggestions 

 which seemed to me especially admirable. 



From this time I declared myself a socialist, and I made 

 the first scientific application of my conviction in an article on 

 " Human Selection " in the Fortnightly Review (September, 

 1890), in which I showed how such a state as socialism 

 postulates would result in the solution of two great problems, 

 (1) that of gradually reducing the rate of increase of the 

 population through a later period of marriage, and (2) by 

 setting up a process of sexual selection which would steadily 

 eliminate the physically imperfect and the socially and 

 morally unfit. This article called forth several expressions 

 of approval, which I highly value. It forms the last chapter 

 of vol. i. of my " Studies, Scientific and Social." 



I now read several other books on socialism, such as 

 Mr. Kirkup's " Enquiry into Socialism," an admirable resume', 

 generally favourable; William Morris's "News from Nowhere," 

 a charming poetical dream, but as a picture of society almost 

 absurd, since nobody seems to work except at odd times 

 when they feel the inclination, and no indication is given of 

 any organization of labour. Gronlund's " Our Destiny " is a 

 beautiful and well-reasoned essay on the influence of socialism 

 on morals and religion, and his " Co-operative Common- 

 wealth," an exposition of constructive socialism, which has 

 given us in its title the shortest and most accurate definition 

 of what socialism really is. "A Cityless and Countryless 



