My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

LONDON WORKERS, SECULARISTS, ETC. 57practical of philanthropists, as well as one of the bestand most lovable of men.I have a recollection of having once heard him givea short address at this " Hall of Science," and that Iwas struck by his tall spare figure, very lofty head,and highly benevolent countenance and mode ofspeaking. Although later in life my very scantyknowledge of his work was not sufficient to preventmy adopting the individualist views of HerbertSpencer and of the political economists, I have alwayslooked upon Owen as my first teacher in the philosophyof human nature and my first guide throughthe labyrinth of social science. He influenced mycharacter more than I then knew, and now that Ihave read his life and most of his works, I am fullyconvinced that he was the greatest of social reformersand the real founder of modern Socialism. For thesereasons I trust that my readers will not consider thespace I have here devoted to an outline of his greatwork at New Lanark is more than the subjectdeserves.The preceding sketch of his work is founded uponhis " Life " written by himself, and accompanied bysuch a mass of confirmatory reports and correspondenceas to show that it can be thoroughly relied on.It has, however, long been out of print, and very fewpeople have read it or even heard of it, and it is forthis reason that I have given this brief outline.