[1]1
PREFACE for the Swedish edition of "THE WONDERFUL CENTURY."2
The wellknown [sic] and prominent English philosopher, naturalist XX [sic] and scientist, Alfred Russell [sic] Wallace who with Charles Darwin3 shares the honor of founding the doctrine of "natural selection" as an explanation of the "origin of species", in regard to the vegetable and animal kingdoms, has in the following work expressed his opinions as to what our century(written 1898) [sic] has accomplished and what it has neglected.
The successful attainment and the mistakes made in the meantime. The astounding evidences of progress which it has made and what it has accomplished in regard to the sciences and the technical branches surely entitles it to be called "The Wonderful Century".
But when the author faces the question as to whether the century has only had progress and advancement to show in regard to social [2] —— 2 ——— and humane movements, he finds that it comes far short of the mark. It has failed utterly in some respects and is guilty of making sad mistakes in others.
IF A MAN WITH THESE MISTAKES IN VIEW MAKES AN EXCEPTION OF PHRENOLOGY, BECAUSE AS TO ITS IMPORTANCE AS A SCIENCE THE OPINIONS MAY WIDELY DIFFER, the humane and warm hearted author of the book has perfectly right in what he says in the last chapter of his work.
If he in this respect, in the first place only had English conditions in view, his observations can be however well applied t [sic] to other countries as well.
O. H. DUMRATH.4
A. L. NORMAN &CO., [sic] Publishers.) (Translatoer.)
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Remarks.
The capitals above are mine and not the translatoers, but they only go to empasize the most important passage of the whole preface to the average phrenological advocate.
Thus, we may observe Doctor how this candidate for the degree "M. D." which he has however not attained endeavours to belittle your opinions of our great science of Phrenology. But he is not alone he has plenty of company, still this goes to show the general trend of thought which prevails among the medical students here. But there are quite a few exceptions, and we are gradually increasing the number of medical men who are willing to test an examination and also to give a written testimonial as to its correctness and your book is helping the good work along for which we are vey[sic], very thankful.
Wm E. Ljungqvist [signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP1604.1383)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP1604,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on