1883.] - Editors’ Table. 175 
navigated the earth, constantly observing wherever he went; and 
at home observed, always observed, out-of-doors. Compare Her- 
bert Spencer’s Biology (1866-71) and Darwin’s “Origin of Spe- 
cies ” a 859) and the very essence and methods of the two works 
are fundamentally unlike. The “Biology” is a collection of gen- 
eral principles in very general and often vague language, with a 
few facts gleaned from the writings of naturalists, while the “ Ori- 
gin of Species,” whether or not we adopt the author’s view of 
natural selection as a vera causa, is the leaven which has leavened 
the whole lump of modern thought. Among philosophers and 
metaphysicians we hear of Spencerism ; among working natural- 
ists we hear of Darwinism. In short, the general acceptance of 
the doctrine of evolution has been due to causes acting from 
—— It is not consistent with the genius of the American peo- 
ple to restrict the progress of scientific knowledge by legislation 
or otherwise. The anti-vivisectionists, or beastiarians, succee 
in seriously hampering physiological research in England, and en- 
deavored to stultify their intelligence by driving it entirely out of 
the ki In this they happily failed. It is not unlikely that 
similar attempts may be made in this country, especially in locali- 
ties where physiological research has its few and poorly rewarded 
votaries. Frightful stories will be circulated as to the cruelties of 
the vivisectors, and the statements of (?) able scientists will be ad- 
duced to the effect that vivisection is of no benefit to science. 
But the discussion, though opened in the realm of sentiment, has 
e 
animals destroyed for the adornment of ladies’ hats, bonnets 
and hands, is an unnecessary waste of animal life; and the sports 
of the chase are by no means free from cruelty. There is also 
bb bably a great deal too much meat eaten by many people. If 
tas = of benevolent inclinations would devote themselves to 
teaching the laws of nature to the ignorant, they would probably 
diminish human suffering more than by any other method. 
