ANECDOTES OF SPENCER.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 55, 5 March 1904, Page 13

ANECDOTES OF SPENCER.

Herbert .Spencer, while by no means j tin unlikahlo man, fur less unsocial, had always about- him a greut Ucal of the theorising philosopher. Homo who knew him well would even say thai he muh a podunt. The duect inllnenco upon linn of hib father^ strong clmraeter was veiy great. The parent was a teuehci in the behuol of a Mi'h. Turner, in Nottingham, and that lady used to spiMk of his talent for teaching in most ontluifjuibtie lei ma. While Spencer as a young man w.is woi Icing at engineering hi.s close fiieiid and companion was Robert Thomson, who wiw engaged in the .same profession, and was a man of hi 1 iking mental power. Ho predicted Hie fame of Spencer, and used Id give vt'iy gra.nhi,c accounts of his friend's exeowive love for accuracy. Spencer would begin a sentence, proceed mime way, then interrupt himself and nay : "No; T will expu-ss what T mean boiler in this way," choosing then another form of words. An amusing inHlance of Spencer's tendency to theoii&e on all occasions dwells in the memory of one who witnessed it. The company at the breakfast tabio had had their letteis brought to them, and after a time Spencer remarked to the hostess that ho conaidur-ed the social cutftom of not opening letters before othem a senseless one. "But, Mr. Spencer," said Lhe lady, "everybody has opened their letters but you." When Herbert Spencer returned from a visit to Rome ho found himself in a company Avhcrc the conversation tinned on art. *f?penoer pulled out a poukctbook, and after consulting it declared that on looking at the famous Transfiguration at tho Vatican, ho found that it conUiinod thirty-six distinct faults. The precision of the number naturally caused a smile. It is pretty generally agreed, however, that Spencer had no great sense of humour. Ho' used in later years to pay visite to Gi-ant Alien, between whom and himself Uiere exißted a great friendship. On ono occasion he camo provided with two curious* objects that wero tied behind hJR ears. They naturally excited the curiouily of tho company, but their purpose was soon disclosed, for whenever the conversation took a turn that did not interest him he pulled tho things over his ears and w obtained silence within himself, Ho culled them ear-clips. In early days Herbert Spencer lived in life boardinghouse kept by George Chnpnmn, the. editor of tho Westminster Review, with which Goorge Ktiot had so brilliant a connection. George Eliot was nlso a hoarder, and Georg« Henry Lewes a eon«tunt visitor. A great friendship existed between Spenoor and George KHot, as all tho world knows. But the lady to whom wo owe these recollections cannot understand how Herbert, Spencer, who seemed methodical and particular in his \i ays, got along in Uio house, for when («ho was on on« occasion shown into Mrs. Chapman* bedroom to take oil her bonnet nnd cloak, »h« remarked in an open drawer a moM. various collection of objiicts such as knives and foikw, combs and hairbrushes, all mixed \ip togethor. This lady's acquaintance with Herbert Rpenccr opened in a curious way. Sbo had been leading with great appreciation his (";say on •'Hdncation," ami, being in search of a governess, sho pitched her iequiiemont.s somewhat high for what wot* j)rocurablc, but by no means abovo tho Speneeriau stiuulaid. She accordingly, in a humorous moment, wrote him a note of protect against the difficulties ho hud bi ought upon her. The letter drew forth a courteous roply, which began a long acquaintance Once- at dinner at Mrs. Asquith's (sap a cot respondent) Mr. Balfour made the happiest simile of Mr. Herbert Spencor. Hi' remarked that- ho wins the- Brahms of science, and proceeded to illustrate his comment by nome observations on tho composer, ilrabms scorns t>o serious and so dull at first, yet in luh mnsio you find the most profound knowledge and an austere beauty intensely self-repressed, jet most convincing. Tho music of Brahma, said Mr. Balfour, gives the highest intelksotnal gratification, it exercises all your faculties, and it appeals to the sober side of your omotaons as that of no other grent master does. And it* not all thw tio analogy of Mr. Herbert Spencer's groat work? — Tho London Outlook.