267 
1883.] Sociological Study. 
Dr. Beard’s treatise on “ American Nervousness,” as pub- 
lished in 1881, and no one who glances over the two can 
fail to be struck with the general sameness not merely of the 
thoughts, but even of the expressions. Thus Mr. Spencer 
declares: — “ In brief, I may say we have had somewhat too 
much of the ‘ gospel of work.’ It is time to preach the 
gospel of relaxation.” In juxtaposition we read from Dr. 
Beard’s treatise : — “ The gospel of work must make way for 
the gospel of rest.” These two passages give, in either 
case, the key-note to what follows. Dr. Beard raises the 
question whether there is here unconscious appropriation on 
the part of Mr. Spencer, or whether both writers have bor- 
rowed from some common sources ? He comes to no definite 
conclusion. It is no part of my duties to complete what he 
has left incomplete, and either to condemn or to absolve 
Mr. Spencer of unacknowledged appropriation of the thoughts 
of others. My concern is rather with the ideas than with 
their original source. Certainly if two writers, proceeding 
independently and by different methods, have arrived at con- 
clusions substantially identical, these may, on that very 
account, claim the more respectful attention. 
Mr. Spencer and Dr. Beard admit, in the main, that 
modern civilisation is a gigantic failure. The ancient civili- 
sation, based upon a military organisation of society, we 
know wore itself away, and is incapable of revival. Still 
whilst it lasted it was in a great measure successful. The 
Roman was trained, both positively and negatively, for war, 
conquest, command, and organisation, and in these direc- 
tions he proved unmatched for centuries, till he practically 
renounced the principles by which he had been guided. 
The modern man, of Europe and America, has been 
1 rained with ever-increasing exclusiveness for getting and 
having, and for work in a limited sense of the word, as the 
means to such end. To use phrenological language, acqui- 
sitiveness has for the last four or five centuries taken the 
place occupied by combativeness in the days of classical 
antiquity and in the Middle Ages. What has been the 
result ? It is by no means pleasing to contemplate. The 
resources at the command of man have been, indeed, almost 
indefinitely increased. A variety of treasures, mineral and 
organic, which in former ages slumbered unrecognised in the 
earth or in the woods, have been detected and brought into 
play. Various kinds of waste and refuse, which were once 
a mere encumbrance, are now made sources of wealth. 
The labour of men and animals, always costly, is in numbers 
of cases superseded by the cheaper agency of mechanical 
