Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 8.djvu/639

Rh he sought to secure objects not usually recognized in the method of this study. He prepared for the use of beginners a little manual entitled "Inventional Geometry," consisting of questions and problems designed to familiarize the pupil with geometrical conceptions, and to exercise his inventive capacity in actual and accurate constructions with the use of simple instruments.

It was in this discreet way, never crowding or cramming, but kindling his interest and leaving him much to himself, that Mr. Spencer conducted the education of his son.

When Herbert was three years of age, his father's health having broken down, he was compelled to give up his school, and removed to Nottingham. He here entered into the manufacture of lace by machinery, which was just then the rage.

Herbert was the only surviving child, and his health was so delicate that his parents had. little hope of raising him. As a lad his health was not strong, although he was not ill; his constitution being well balanced but not hardy. His father, fearing that he would give way under strain, did not press him to study. Three years were spent at Nottingham, in which the boy attended, for a short time, a common day-school kept by a mistress.

When Herbert was between six and seven the family returned to Derby, but Mr. Spencer did not resume his school; he took to private teaching. The lad did not read until he was seven. The first book to which he was attracted was "Sanford and Merton." When, afterward, he went to school, he was very inattentive and idle, having a repugnance to lesson-learning, and never reciting a lesson correctly that was learned by rote. He was, however, leniently dealt with, his father probably directing that he should not be urged. During boyhood he was greatly given to playing games, fishing, birds-nesting, country rambles, gathering wild fruits and mushrooms—all Saturday afternoons being turned to such purposes. Apart from school-studies, his father early led him into drawing, especially from objects. During this same period he encouraged him to keep insects through their transformations, and for years the finding and rearing of caterpillars, the catching and preserving of winged insects were constant and enjoyed occupations. He was also incited to make drawings of these insects. He rarely made friends of bigger boys, being intolerant of any thing like bullying. But his father mentions the fact in one of his letters that the younger boys were very fond of him; implying, perhaps, that while he would not be imposed upon by his elders, he did not bully his juniors. The latter part of his school-days at Derby was passed at a school set up by an uncle who, also having rational ideas of teaching, carried out his father's views. Among some dozen or so of boys he was characterized as backward in things requiring memory and recitation, but as in advance of the rest in