78 
CONSTANCE C. W. NADEN. 
Apr., 1890 . 
Miss Naden developed like a plant brought out of semi-darkness 
into sunshine—not so strikingly, perhaps, in intellect as in 
character. It was at Mason College, in the lively debates of 
the Union, the pleasant but not always peaceful discussions of 
the Poesy Club, and the learned disquisitions of the various 
scientific societies, that Miss Naden first became conscious of 
the full extent of her powers, and assumed that leadership 
which was her birthright. When she rose to speak there was 
always a thrill of expectation ; her audience knew that how¬ 
ever ‘ thrashed out’ by previous speakers the subject might be, 
it would exhibit fresh vitality and present a new aspect under 
her skilful treatment; and the hearts of her opponents sank 
as they thought of the weak points and hidden sophistries in 
their arguments. Miss Naden had a terrible sixth sense for 
such things, and dealt with them with a satire which was 
playful or severe as occasion demanded. Needless to say that 
this gift did not tend to make her popular with those in whom 
amour propre was more largely developed than the sense of 
humour. But if Miss Naden was swift to detect error and 
absurdity (and perhaps the Union debates afforded exceptional 
scope for destructive criticism), she was equally prompt to 
recognise a good point or a fine thought, and gave unstinted 
honour where honour was due.” 
It will be fitting in this place to enter a little into detail 
in explaining another factor—a new environment—which, 
coming just as it did towards the end of her college career, had 
some, if not an important influence in the future, on Miss 
Naden’s conceptions of the science of life, and its correlative, 
the science of society. During the spring* of the year 1883 
an important departure from its ordinary work was resolved 
upon by the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical 
Society—the oldest existing scientific society in the town. On 
the requisition of fifteen members, the Council determined to 
establish a Sociological Section for the study of Mr. Herbert 
Spencer’s system of “Synthetic Philosophy.” The project was 
inaugurated with the hearty approval of Mr. Spencer himself, 
the first lion. sec. being Mr. Alfred Hayes, M.A., author of 
that exquisite poem, “ The Last Crusade;” and since its 
establishment nearly the whole of the works of “ our great 
philosopher” have been, as the readers of this journal are 
aware, subjected to an exhaustive and searching exposition 
and criticism, in which many of those in the town actively 
interested in the doctrine of evolution have at times taken 
part. To this Section, over which the writer of these lines 
has had the honour of presiding since its formation, Miss 
Naden was attracted in 1884, and she continued a regular 
