SKETCH OF PAOLO MANTEGAZZA. 549 



SKETCH OF PAOLO MANTEGAZZA. 



Bt Prof. FEEDEEICK STAEE. 



AS a nation we know far too little of what is being accom- 

 plished in the world outside. We do in some degree keep 

 track of the work of our English brothers, and occasionally some 

 French or German worker compels our recognition. But there 

 are many intelligent readers who do not know that Italy is to-day 

 a veritable center of scientific work. Yet such is the case, and in 

 such sciences as astronomy, zoology, and botany great progress is 

 making there. Nor are they at all behind in anthropology ; and 

 the man who leads in Italian anthropology is Paolo Mantegazza. 



No doubt to many American readers his Physiognomy and 

 Expression, lately put into an English dress, is the only work of 

 Mantegazza's known. It is a remarkable book — not only on ac- 

 count of its matter, which is of great value, but also on account of 

 its style. There is scarcely a scientific book in any language that 

 so plainly reflects its author, in his individual and ethnic charac- 

 teristics. To read it is to gain a wonderful insight into the Italian 

 mind and into the Italian mode of thought and expression. 



Paolo Mantegazza was born at Monza, near Milan, Italy, on 

 October 31, 1831. His mother was a remarkable woman — Laura 

 Solera — well known for philanthropy and patriotism. No small 

 part of the force of character, the strength of purpose, and the 

 clearness which Mantegazza shows in his work seems to be in- 

 herited from this woman. She established the first creche and 

 founded the first professional school for women in Italy. During 

 the wars of 1848 and 1859 she cared for the wounded soldiers. 

 There appears to have been an unusual love between this mother 

 and son, and Mantegazza refers to her at times in his writings. 

 He always deferred much to her opinion ; and in 1883, when some 

 question had arisen as to the propriety of his famous book upon 

 the Physiology of Love, the author submitted the book to her for 

 judgment. Her letter of approval is presented in full in the intro- 

 ductory chapter of the work, and ends thus : " When I shall have 

 the happiness of having you near me, I shall point out to you the 

 passages which most please me. Meantime receive the enthusi- 

 astic greetings of your affectionate mama." 



Mantegazza studied medicine in the Universities of Pisa and 

 Pa via. Having become a physician, he spent several months in 

 Paris and then journeyed over a large part of Europe. At the 

 age of nineteen years he published a memoir upon Spontaneous 

 Generation, and was appointed Acting Professor of Chemistry in 

 the Technical School at Milan. The first of the remarkable series 

 of anthropological works which has rendered his name famous — 



