disciple of Saint
Nicholas or follower of Saint George. [Applause.] The Puritan did not
pass away with his early struggles. He has changed his garb and his
speech; he has advanced with the progress of the age; but in his
fidelity to principle and his devotion to duty he lives to-day as truly
as he lived in the days of the Puritan Revolution and the Puritan
Pilgrimage. His spirit shines in the lofty teachings of Channing and in
the unbending principles of Sumner, in the ripened wisdom of Emerson and
in the rhythmical lessons of Longfellow. The courageous John Pym was not
more resolute and penetrating in leading the great struggle in the Long
Parliament than was George F. Edmunds in the Senate of the United
States. And the intrepid and sagacious John Hampden, heroic in battle
and supreme in council, wise, steadfast, and true, was but a prototype
of Benjamin Harrison.

HERBERT SPENCER

THE GOSPEL OF RELAXATION

[Speech of Herbert Spencer at a dinner given in his honor in New
York City, November 9, 1882. William M. Evarts presided.]

MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN:--Along with your kindness there
comes to me a great unkindness from Fate; for now, that above all times
in my life I need the full command of what powers of speech I possess,
disturbed health so threatens to interfere with them, that I fear I
shall often inadequately express myself. Any failure in my response you
must please ascribe, in part at least, to a greatly disordered nervous
system. Regarding you as representing Americans at large, I feel that
the occasion is one on which arrears of thanks are due. I ought to begin
with the time, some two and twenty years ago, when my highly valued
friend, Professor Youmans, making efforts to diffuse my books here,
interested on their behalf Messrs. Appleton, who have ever treated me so
honorably and so handsomely; and I ought to detail from that time onward
the various marks and acts of sympathy by which I have been encouraged
in a struggle which was for many years disheartening.

But intimating thus briefly my general indebtedness to my numerous
friends most of them unknown on this side of the Atlantic, I must name
more especially the many attentions and proffered hospitalities met with
during my late tour as well as, lastly and chiefly, this marked
expression of the sympathies and good wishes which many of you have
travelled so far to give at great cost of that time which is so precious
to an Ame