Edited,withintroductionandnotesbyAdaL.F.Snell
AssociateProfessorOfEnglishMountHolyokeCollege
CONTENTS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
TheLifeofHuxleySubject—matter,Structure,andStyleofEssaysSuggestedStudiesAUTOBIOGRAPHY
ONIMPROVINGNATURALKNOWLEDGE
ALIBERALEDUCATION
ONAPIECEOFCHALK
THEPRINCIPALSUBJECTSOFEDUCATION
THEMETHODOFSCIENTIFICINVESTIGATION
ONTHEPHYSICALBASISOFLIFE
ONCORALANDCORALREEFS
NOTES
PREFACE
ThepurposeofthefollowingselectionsistopresenttostudentsofEnglishafewofHuxley’srepresentativeessays.Someoftheseselectionsarecomplete;othersareextracts.Inthelattercase,however,theyarenotextractsinthesenseofbeingincompletewholes,foreachselectiongivenwillbefoundtohave,inAristotle’sphrase,\"abeginning,amiddle,andanend.\"Thattheyarecompleteinthemselves,althoughonlypartsofwholeessays,isduetothefactthatHuxley,inordertomakesucceedingmaterialclear,oftenpreparesthewaywithalongandcarefuldefinition.
SuchisthenatureoftheextractALiberalEducation,inrealityadefinitiontomakedistinctandforciblehisideasontheshortcomingsofEnglishschools.Suchadefinition,also,isTheMethodofScientificInvestigation.
Thefootnotesarethoseoftheauthor.Othernotesonthetexthavebeenincludedforthebenefitofschoolsinadequatelyequippedwithreferencebooks.Itishoped,however,thatthenotesmaybefoundnottobesonumerousastopreventthetrainingofthestudentinaself—reliantandscholarlyuseofdictionariesandreferencebooks;itishoped,also,thattheymayservetostimulatehimtotraceoutforhimselfmorecompletelyanysubjectconnectedwiththetextinwhichhemayfeelapeculiarinterest.Itshouldberecognizedthatnotesareofvalueonlyastheydeveloppowertoreadintelligently.Ifunintelligentlyreliedupon,theymayevenfosterindifferenceandlazymentalhabits.
IwishtoexpressmyobligationtoMissFloraBridges,whosecarefulreadingofthemanuscripthasbeenmosthelpful,andtoProfessorClaraF.Stevens,theheadoftheEnglishDepartmentatMountHolyokeCollege,whoseverypracticalaidmadethisvolumepossible.
A.L.F.S.
INTRODUCTION
I
THELIFEOFHUXLEY
OfHuxley’slifeandoftheforceswhichmouldedhisthought,theAutobiographygivessomeaccount;butmanyfactswhicharesignificantareslighted,andnecessarilythelatereventsofhislifeareomitted.Tosupplementthestoryasgivenbyhimisthepurposeofthissketch.ThefactsforthisaccountaregatheredentirelyfromtheLifeandLettersofThomasHenryHuxley,byhisson.ForarealacquaintancewithHuxley,thestudentshouldconsultthissourceforhimself;hewillcountthereadingoftheLifeandLettersamongtherarepleasureswhichhavecometohimthroughbooks.
ThomasHenryHuxleywasbornonMay4,1825.Hisautobiographygivesafullaccountofhisparents,hisearlyboyhood,andhiseducation.Offormaleducation,Huxleyhadlittle;buthehadthericherschoolingwhichnatureandlifegiveaneagermind.Hereadwidely;hetalkedoftenwitholderpeople;hewasalwaysinvestigatingthewhyofthings.Hekeptajournalinwhichhenotedthoughtsgatheredfrombooks,andideasonthecausesofcertainphenomena.Inthisjournalhefrequentlywrotewhathehaddoneandhadsethimselftodointhewayofincreasinghisknowledge.Self—conducted,also,washislatereducationattheCharingCrossHospital.Here,likeStevensoninhisuniversitydays,Huxleyseemedtobeidle,butinreality,hewasalwaysbusyonhisownprivateend.Soconstantlydidheworkoverthemicroscopethatthewindowatwhichhesatcametobedubbedbyhisfellowstudents\"TheSignoftheHeadandMicroscope.\"Moreover,inhisregularcoursesatCharingCross,heseemstohavedoneworksufficientlynotabletoberecognizedbyseveralprizesandagoldmedal.
Ofhislifeafterthecompletionofhismedicalcourse,ofhissearchforwork,ofhisappointmentasassistantsurgeononboardtheRattlesnake,andofhisscientificworkduringthefouryears’
cruise,Huxleygivesavividdescriptionintheautobiography.Asaresultofhisinvestigationsonthisvoyage,hepublishedvariousessayswhichquicklysecuredforhimapositioninthescientificworldasanaturalistofthefirstrank.AtestimonyofthevalueofthisworkwashiselectiontomembershipintheRoyalSociety.
AlthoughHuxleyhadnow,attheageoftwenty—six,wondistinctioninscience,hesoondiscoveredthatitwasnotsoeasytoearnbreadthereby.Nevertheless,toearnalivingwasmostimportantifheweretoaccomplishthetwoobjectswhichhehadinview.Hewished,inthefirstplace,tomarryMissHenriettaHeathornofSydney,towhomhehadbecomeengagedwhenonthecruisewiththeRattlesnake;hissecondobjectwastofollowscienceasaprofession.Thestruggletofindsomethingconnectedwithsciencewhichwouldpaywaslongandbitter;andonlyaresolutedeterminationtowinkeptHuxleyfromabandoningitaltogether.
Uniformill—luckmethimeverywhere.HehastoldinhisautobiographyofhistroubleswiththeAdmiraltyintheendeavortogethispaperspublished,andofhisfailurethere.HeappliedforapositiontoteachscienceinToronto;beingunsuccessfulinthisattempt,heappliedsuccessivelyforvariousprofessorshipsintheUnitedKingdom,andinthishewaslikewiseunsuccessful.Someofhisfriendsurgedhimtoholdout,butothersthoughtthefightanunequalone,andadvisedhimtoemigratetoAustralia.HehimselfwastemptedtopracticemedicineinSydney;buttogiveuphispurposeseemedtohimlikecowardice.Ontheotherhand,toprolongthestruggleindefinitelywhenhemightquicklyearnalivinginotherwaysseemedlikeselfishnessandaninjusticetothewomantowhomhehadbeenforalongtimeengaged.MissHeathorn,however,upheldhiminhisdeterminationtopursuescience;andhissisteralso,hewrites,cheeredhimbyheradviceandencouragementtopersistinthestruggle.Somethingoftheman’sheroictempermaybegatheredfromaletterwhichhewrotetoMissHeathornwhenhisaffairsweredarkest.\"Howeverpainfulourseparationmaybe,\"hesays,\"thespectacleofamanwhohadgivenupthecherishedpurposeofhislifewould,beforelongyearswereoverourheads,beinfinitelymorepainful.\"Hedeclaresthatheishemmedinbyallsortsofdifficulties.\"Neverthelessthepathhasshownitselfafairone,neithermoredifficultnorlesssothanmostpathsinlifeinwhichamanofenergymayhopetodomuchifhebelievesinhimself,andisatpeacewithin.\"Thusrelievedinmind,hemakeshisdecisioninspiteofadversefate.
\"Mycourseoflifeistaken,IwillnotleaveLondon——IWILLmakemyselfanameandapositionaswellasanincomebysomekindofpursuitconnectedwithsciencewhichisthethingforwhichNaturehasfittedmeifshehaseverfittedanyoneforanything.\"
Butsuddenlythelongwait,thefaithinself,werejustified,andtheturningpointcame.\"ThereisalwaysaCapeHorninone’slifethatoneeitherweathersorwrecksone’sselfon,\"hewritestohissister.\"ThankGod,IthinkImaysayIhaveweatheredmine——notwithoutagooddealofdamagetosparsandriggingthough,foritblewdeucedhardontheotherside.\"In1854apermanentlectureshipwasofferedhimattheGovernmentSchoolofMines;
also,alectureshipatSt.Thomas’Hospital;andhewasaskedtogivevariousotherlecturecourses.Hethusfoundhimselfabletoestablishthehomeforwhichhehadwaitedeightyears.InJuly,1855,hewasmarriedtoMissHeathorn.
Thesucceedingyearsfrom1855to1860werefilledwithvariouskindsofworkconnectedwithscience:originalinvestigation,printingofmonographs,andestablishingofnaturalhistorymuseums.Hisadviceconcerninglocalmuseumsisinterestingandcharacteristicallyexpressed.\"It[thelocalmuseumifproperlyarranged]willtellbothnativesandstrangersexactlywhattheywanttoknow,andpossessgreatscientificinterestandimportance.
Whereastheordinarylumber—roomofclubsfromNewZealand,Hinduidols,sharks’teeth,mangymonkeys,scorpions,andconchshells——
whoshalldescribethewearyinutilityofit?Itisreallyworsethannothing,becauseitleadstheunwarytolookforobjectsofscienceelsewherethanundertheirnoses.Whattheywanttoknowisthattheir’Americaishere,’asWilhelmMeisterhasit.\"
Duringthisperiod,also,hebeganhislecturestoworkingmen,callingthemPeoples’Lectures.\"POPULARlectures,\"hesaid,\"I
holdtobeanabominationuntotheLord.\"Working—menattendedtheselecturesingreatnumbers,andtothemHuxleyseemedtobealwaysabletospeakathisbest.Hispurposeingivingtheselecturesshouldbeexpressedinhisownwords:\"IwanttheworkingclasstounderstandthatScienceandherwaysaregreatfactsforthem——thatphysicalvirtueisthebaseofallother,andthattheyaretobecleanandtemperateandalltherest——notbecausefellowsinblackandwhitetiestellthemso,butbecausethereareplainandpatentlawswhichtheymustobey’underpenalties.’\"
Towardthecloseof1859,Darwin’s\"OriginofSpecies\"waspublished.ItraisedagreatoutcryinEngland;andHuxleyimmediatelycameforwardaschiefdefenderofthefaiththereinsetforth.Hetookpartindebatesonthissubject,themostfamousofwhichwastheonebetweenhimselfandBishopWilberforceatOxford.
TheBishopconcludedhisspeechbyturningtoHuxleyandasking,\"Wasitthroughhisgrandfatherorgrandmotherthatheclaimeddescentfromamonkey?\"Huxley,asisreportedbyaneye—witness,\"slowlyanddeliberatelyarose.Aslighttallfigure,sternandpale,veryquietandgrave,hestoodbeforeusandspokethosetremendouswordsHewasnotashamedtohaveamonkeyforanancestor;buthewouldbeashamedtobeconnectedwithamanwhousedgreatgiftstoobscurethetruth.\"Anotherstoryindicatesthetemperofthattime.Carlyle,whosewritinghadstronglyinfluencedHuxley,andwhomHuxleyhadcometoknow,couldnotforgivehimforhisattitudetowardevolution.Oneday,yearsafterthepublicationofMan’sPlaceinNature,Huxley,seeingCarlyleontheothersideofthestreet,abroken,patheticfigure,walkedoverandspoketohim.Theoldmanmerelyremarked,\"You’reHuxley,aren’tyou?themanthatsayswearealldescendedfrommonkeys,\"andpassedon.Huxley,however,sawnothingdegradingtoman’sdignityinthetheoryofevolution.Inawonderfullyfinesentencehegiveshisownestimateofthetheoryasitaffectsman’sfutureonearth.\"Thoughtfulmenonceescapedfromtheblindinginfluencesoftraditionalprejudices,willfindinthelowlystockwhencemanhassprungthebestevidenceofthesplendourofhiscapacities;andwilldiscover,inhislongprogressthroughthepast,areasonablegroundoffaithinhisattainmentofanoblerfuture.\"AsaresultofallthesecontroversiesonTheOriginofSpeciesandofinvestigationstoupholdDarwin’stheory,Huxleywrotehisfirstbook,alreadymentioned,Man’sPlaceinNature.
ToreadalistofthevariouskindsofworkwhichHuxleywasdoingfrom1870to1875istobeconvincedofhisabundantenergyandmanyinterests.AtaboutthistimeHuxleyexecutedtheplanwhichhehadhadinmindforalongtime,theestablishmentoflaboratoriesfortheuseofstudents.Hisobjectwastofurnishamoreexactpreliminarytraining.Hecomplainsthatthestudentwhoentersthemedicalschoolis\"sohabituatedtolearnonlyfrombooks,ororalteaching,thattheattempttolearnfromthingsandtogethisknowledgeatfirsthandissomethingnewandstrange.\"
Tomakethismethodofteachingsuccessfulintheschools,Huxleygavepracticalinstructioninlaboratoryworktoschool—masters.
\"IfIamtoberememberedatall,\"Huxleyoncewrote,\"Iwouldratheritshouldbeasamanwhodidhisbesttohelpthepeoplethanbyanyothertitle.\"Certainlyasmuchofhistimeascouldbesparedfromhisregularworkwasgiventohelpothers.Hislecturestoworkingmenandschool—mastershavealreadybeenmentioned.Inaddition,helecturedtowomenonphysiologyandtochildrenonelementaryscience.Inordertobeofgreaterservicetothechildren,Huxley,inspiteofdelicatehealth,becameamemberoftheLondonSchoolBoard.Hisimmediateobjectwas\"totemperbook—learningwithsomethingofthedirectknowledgeofNature.\"Hisotherpurposesweretosecureabetterphysicaltrainingforchildrenandtogivethemaclearerunderstandingofsocialandmorallaw.Hedidnotbelieve,ontheonehand,inovercrowdingthecurriculum,but,ontheotherhand,he\"feltthatalleducationshouldbethrownopentoallthateachmanmightknowtowhatstateinlifehewascalled.\"AnotherstatementofhispurposeandbeliefsisgivenbyProfessorGladstone,whosaysofhisworkontheboard:\"Heresentedtheideathatschoolsweretotraineithercongregationsforchurchesorhandsforfactories.HewasontheBoardasafriendofchildren.Whathesoughttodoforthechildwasforthechild’ssake,thatitmightliveafuller,truer,worthierlife.\"
TheimmenseamountofworkwhichHuxleydidintheseyearstoldveryseriouslyonhisnaturallyweakconstitution.Itbecamenecessaryforhimfinallyfortwosuccessiveyearstostopworkaltogether.In1872hewenttotheMediterraneanandtoEgypt.
ThiswasaholidayfullofinterestforamanlikeHuxleywholookeduponthehistoryoftheworldandman’splaceintheworldwithakeenscientificmind.Addedtothisscientificbentofmind,moreover,Huxleyhadadeepappreciationforthepicturesqueinnatureandlife.Bitsofdescriptionindicatehisenjoymentinthisvacation.HewritesofhisentrancetotheMediterranean,\"Itwasalovelymorning,andnothingcouldbegranderthanApeHillononesideandtheRockontheother,lookinglikegreatlionsorsphinxesoneachsideofagateway.\"InCairo,Huxleyfoundmuchtointeresthiminarchaeology,geology,andtheevery—daylifeofthestreets.Attheendofamonth,hewritesthatheisverywellandverygratefultoOldNileforallthathehasdoneforhim,nottheleast\"forawholeuniverseofnewthoughtsandpicturesoflife.\"Thetrip,however,didnolastinggood.In1873Huxleywasagainveryill,butwasundersuchheavycostsatthistimethatanothervacationwasimpossible.Atthismoment,acriticaloneinhislife,someofhisclosescientificfriendsplacedtohiscredittwenty—onehundredpoundstoenablehimtotakethemuchneededrest.DarwinwrotetoHuxleyconcerningthegift:\"Indoingthisweareconvincedthatweactforthepublicinterest.\"HeassuredHuxleythatthefriendswhogavethisfelttowardhimasabrother.
\"Iamsurethatyouwillreturnthisfeelingandwillthereforebegladtogiveustheopportunityofaidingyouinsomedegree,asthiswillbeahappinesstoustothelastdayofourlives.\"ThegiftmadeitpossibleforHuxleytotakeanotherlongvacation,partofwhichwasspentwithSirJosephHooker,anotedEnglishbotanist,visitingthevolcanoesofAuvergne.Afterthistriphesteadilyimprovedinhealth,withnootherseriousillnessfortenyears.
In1876HuxleywasinvitedtovisitAmericaandtodelivertheinauguraladdressatJohnsHopkinsUniversity.InJulyofthisyearaccordingly,incompanywithhiswife,hecrossedtoNewYork.
EverywhereHuxleywasreceivedwithenthusiasm,forhisnamewasaveryfamiliarone.TwoquotationsfromhisaddressatJohnsHopkinsareespeciallyworthyofattentionasapartofhismessagetoAmericans.\"Ithasbeenmyfatetoseegreateducationalfundsfossiliseintomerebricksandmortarinthepetrifyingspringsofarchitecture,withnothinglefttoworkthem.Agreatwarriorissaidtohavemadeadesertandcalleditpeace.Trusteeshavesometimesmadeapalaceandcalleditauniversity.\"
Thesecondquotationisasfollows:——
IcannotsaythatIamintheslightestdegreeimpressedbyyourbignessoryourmaterialresources,assuch.Sizeisnotgrandeur,territorydoesnotmakeanation.Thegreatissue,aboutwhichhangstruesublimity,andtheterrorofoverhangingfate,is,whatareyougoingtodowithallthesethings?
Theoneconditionofsuccess,yoursolesafeguard,isthemoralworthandintellectualclearnessoftheindividualcitizen.
Educationcannotgivethese,butitcancherishthemandbringthemtothefrontinwhateverstationofsocietytheyaretobefound,andtheuniversitiesoughttobe,andmaybe,thefortressesofthehigherlifeofthenation.
AfterthereturnfromAmerica,thesameinnumerableoccupationswerecontinued.ItwouldbeimpossibleinshortspaceeventoenumerateallHuxley’svariouspublicationsofthenexttenyears.
Hiswork,however,changedgraduallyfromscientificinvestigationtoadministrativework,nottheleastimportantofwhichwastheofficeofInspectorofFisheries.AsecondimportantofficewasthePresidencyoftheRoyalSociety.OftheworkofthissocietySirJosephHookerwrites:\"Thedutiesoftheofficearemanifoldandheavy;theyincludeattendanceatallthemeetingsoftheFellows,andofthecouncils,committees,andsub—committeesoftheSociety,andespeciallythesupervisionoftheprintingandillustratingallpapersonbiologicalsubjectsthatarepublishedintheSociety’sTransactionsandProceedings;thelatterofteninvolvingaprotractedcorrespondencewiththeauthors.Tothismustbeaddedashareinthesupervisionofthestaffofficers,ofthelibraryandcorrespondence,andthedetailsofhouse—keeping.\"
Alltheworkconnectedwiththisandmanyotherofficesbespeaksalifetoohard—drivenandaccountsfullyforthecontinuedill—
healthwhichfinallyresultedinacompletebreak—down.
Huxleyhadalwaysadvocatedthattheageofsixtywasthetimefor\"officialdeath,\"andhadlookedforwardtoapeaceful\"Indiansummer.\"Withthisobjectinmindandtroubledbyincreasingill—
health,hebeganin1885togiveuphiswork.Buttoliveevenincomparativeidleness,aftersomanyyearsofactivity,wasdifficult.\"Iamsure,\"hesays,\"thatthehabitofincessantworkintowhichwealldriftisasbadinitswayasdram—drinking.Intimeyoucannotbecomfortablewithoutstimulus.\"Butcontinuedbodilyweaknesstolduponhimtotheextentthatallworkbecamedistasteful.Anutterwearinesswithfrequentspellsofthebluestookpossessionofhim;andthestoryofhislifeforsomeyearsisthestoryofthelongpursuitofhealthinEngland,Switzerland,andespeciallyinItaly.
AlthoughHuxleywaswretchedlyillduringthisperiod,hewroteletterswhicharegoodtoreadfortheirhumorandfortheirpicturesofforeigncities.Romehewritesofasanidle,afternoonysortofplacefromwhichitisdifficulttodepart.HeworkedaseagerlyoverthehistoricremainsinRomeashewouldoveracollectionofgeologicalspecimens.\"IbegintounderstandOldRomeprettywellandIamquitelearnedintheCatacombs,whichsuitme,asakindofChristianfossilsoutofwhichonecanreconstructthebodyoftheprimitiveChurch.\"Florence,foramanwithaconscienceandill—health,hadtoomanypicturegalleries.
\"Theyareasoreburdentotheconscienceifyoudon’tgotoseethem,andanawfultrialtothebackandlegsifyoudo,\"hecomplained.HefoundFlorence,nevertheless,alovelyplaceandfullofmostinterestingthingstoseeanddo.Hisletterswithreferencetohimselfalsoarevigorouslyandentertaininglyexpressed.Hewritesinacharacteristicwayofhisgrowingdifficultywithhishearing.\"Itirritatesmenottohear;itirritatesmestillmoretobespokentoasifIweredeaf,andtheabsurdityofbeingirritatedonthelastgroundirritatesmestillmore.\"Andagainhewritesinamorehopefulstrain,\"WithfreshairandexerciseandcarefulavoidanceofcoldandnightairIamtobeallrightagain.\"Hethenadds:\"Iamnotfondofcoddling;
butasPaddygavehispigthebestcornerinhiscabin——because’shure,hepaidtherint’——Ifeelboundtotakecareofmyselfasahouseholdanimalofvalue,tosaynothingofotherpoints.\"
Althoughhewasneverstrongafterthislongillness,Huxleybeganin1889tobemuchbetter.ThefirstsignofreturningvigorwastheeagernesswithwhichheenteredintoacontroversywithGladstone.Huxleyhadalwaysenjoyedamentalbattle;andsomeofhisfiercesttiltswerewithGladstone.Heevenfoundthecauseofbetterhealthinthiscontroversy,andwasgratefultothe\"GrandOldMan\"formakinghomehappyforhim.Fromthistimetohisdeath,Huxleywroteanumberofarticlesonpolitics,science,andreligion,manyofwhichwerepublishedinthevolumecalledControvertedQuestions.ThemainvalueoftheseessaysliesinthefactthatHuxleycallsuponmentogiveclearreasonsforthefaithwhichtheyclaimastheirs,andmakes,asafriendwroteofhim,hazythinkingandslovenly,half—formedconclusionsseemthebasethingtheyreallyare.
ThelastyearsofHuxley’slifewereindeedthelonged—forIndiansummer.AwayfromthenoiseofLondonatEastbournebythesea,hespentmanyhappyhourswithold—timefriendsandinhisgarden,whichwasagreatjoytohim.Hislargefamilyofsonsanddaughtersandgrandchildrenbroughtmuchcheertohislastdays.
Almosttotheendhewasworkingandwritingforpublication.
Threedaysbeforehisdeathhewrotetohisoldfriend,Hooker,thathedidn’tfeelatalllike\"sendinginhischecks\"andhopedtorecover.HediedveryquietlyonJune29,1895.Thathemetdeathwiththesamecalmfaithandstrengthwithwhichhehadmetlifeisindicatedbythelineswhichhiswifewroteandwhichherequestedtobehisepitaph:——
Benotafraid,yewaitingheartsthatweep;
ForstillHegivethHisbelovedsleep,AndifanendlesssleepHewills,sobest.
ToattemptananalysisofHuxley’scharacter,uniqueandbafflinglycomplexasitis,isbeyondthescopeofthissketch;buttogiveonlythemerefactsofhislifeistodoaninjusticetothevividpersonalityofthemanasitisrevealedinhisletters.Allhishumaninterestinpeopleandthings——pets,andflowers,andfamily—
—brightensmanypagesofthetwoponderousvolumes.Nowonereadsofhisgriefoversomebackward—goingplant,oroversomegardentragedy,as\"Alovelyclematisinfullflower,whichIhadspenthoursinnailingup,hasjustdiedsuddenly.IammoreinconsolablethanJonah!\"Nowoneisamusedwithanonsenselettertooneofhischildren,andagainwithanaccountofapet.\"I
wishyouwouldwriteseriouslytoM————.SheisnotbehavingwelltoOliver.Ihaveseenhandsomerkittens,butfewmorelively,andenergeticallydestructive.JustnowhescratchedawayatsomethingM————sayscost13s.6d.ayardandreducedmoreorlessofittocombings.M————thereforeexcludeshimfromthedining—roomandallthoseopportunitiesofhighereducationwhichhewouldhaveinMYhouse.\"Frequentlyonefindsadescriptionofsomeevent,sovividlydonethatthemerereadingofitseemslikearealexperience.AnaccountofTennyson’sburialinWestminsterisatypicalbitofdescription:——
Brightsunshinestreamedthroughthewindowsofthenave,whilethechoirwasinhalfgloom,andaseachshaftoflightilluminatedtheflower—coveredbierasitslowlytravelledon,onethoughtofthebrightsuccessionofhisworksbetweenthedarknessbeforeandthedarknessafter.IamgladtosaythattheRoyalSocietywasrepresentedbyfourofitschiefofficers,andnineofthecommonalty,includingmyself.Tennysonhasarighttothat,asthefirstpoetsinceLucretiuswhohasunderstoodthedriftofscience.
NopartsoftheLifeandLettersaremoreenjoyablethanthoseconcerningthe\"HappyFamily,\"asafriendofHuxley’snameshishousehold.Hisfamilyofsevenchildrenfoundtheirfatheramostengagingfriendandcompanion.Hecouldtellthemwonderfulseastoriesandanimalstoriesandcoulddrawfascinatingpictures.
Hissonwritesofhowwhenhewasillwithscarletfeverheusedtolookforwardtohisfather’shome—coming.\"Thesolitarydays——forIwasthefirstvictiminthefamily——wereverylong,andIlookedforwardwithintenseinteresttoonehalf—hourafterdinner,whenhewouldcomeupanddrawscenesfromthehistoryofaremarkablebull—terrierandhisfamilythatwenttotheseasideinamosthumanandchild—delightingmanner.Ihaveseldomsufferedagreaterdisappointmentthanwhen,oneevening,Ifellasleepjustbeforethisfairyhalf—hour,andlostitoutofmylife.\"
TheaccountofthecomradeshipbetweenHuxleyandhiswifereadslikeagoodold—timeromance.Hewasattractedtoheratfirstbyher\"simplicityanddirectnessunitedwithanunusualdegreeofcultivation,\"Huxley’ssonwrites.Onherhedependedforadviceinhiswork,andforcompanionshipathomeandabroadwhenwanderinginsearchofhealthinItalyandSwitzerland.Whenhehadbeenseparatedfromherforsometime,hewrote,\"Nobody,childrenoranyoneelse,canbetomewhatyouare.Ulyssespreferredhisoldwomantoimmortality,andthisabsencehasledmetoseethathewasaswiseinthatasinotherthings.\"Againhewrites,\"Againstalltrouble(andIhavehadmyshare)Iweighawife—comrade’trewandfest’inallemergencies.\"
ThelettersalsogiveoneaclearideaofthebreadthofHuxley’sinterests,particularlyofhisappreciationofthevariousformsofart.Huxleybelievedstronglyintheartsasarefiningandhelpfulinfluenceineducation.Hekeenlyenjoyedgoodmusic.
ProfessorHeweswritesofhimthatonebreakinginuponhimintheafternoonatSouthKensingtonwouldnotinfrequentlybemet\"withasnatchofsomemelodyofBach’sfugue.\"Healsolikedgoodpictures,andalwayshadamonghisfriendswell—knownartists,asAlma—Tadema,SirFrederickLeighton,andBurne—Jones.Hereadpoetrywidely,andstronglyadvocatedtheteachingofpoetryinEnglishschools.Astopoetry,hisownpreferencesareinteresting.Wordsworthheconsideredtoodiscursive;Shelleywastoodiffuse;Keats,helikedforpurebeauty,Browningforstrength,andTennysonforhisunderstandingofmodernscience;butmostfrequentlyofallhereadMiltonandShakespeare.
AstoHuxley’sappearance,andastotheimpressionwhichhispersonalitymadeuponothers,thedescriptionofafriend,Mr.G.
W.Smalley,presentshimwithstrikingforce.\"Thesquareforehead,thesquarejaw,thetenselinesofthemouth,thedeepflashingdarkeyes,theimpressionofsomethingmorethanstrengthhegaveyou,animpressionofsincerity,ofsolidforce,ofimmovability,yetwiththegentlenessarisingfromthesereneconsciousnessofhisstrength——allthisbelongedtoHuxleyandtohimalone.Thefirstglancemagnetizedhisaudience.Theeyeswerethoseofoneaccustomedtocommand,ofonehavingauthority,andnotfearingonoccasiontouseit.Thehairsweptcarelesslyawayfromthebroadforeheadandgrewratherlongbehind,yetthelengthdidnotsuggest,asitoftendoes,effeminacy.Hewasmasculineineverything——look,gesture,speech.Sparingofgesture,sparingofemphasis,carelessofmererhetoricalororatoricalart,hehadneverthelessthesecretofthehighestartofall,whetherinoratoryorwhateverelse——hehadsimplicity.\"
Simplicity,directness,sincerity,——allthesequalitiesdescribeHuxley;buttheoneattributewhichdistinguisheshimaboveallothersisloveoftruth.Aloveoftruth,asthephrasecharacterizesHuxley,wouldnecessarilyproduceascholarlyhabitofmind.Itwasthezealoussearchfortruthwhichdeterminedhismethodofwork.Inscience,Huxleywould\"takeatsecondhandnothingforwhichhevouchedinteaching.\"Someonereproachedhimforwastingtimeverifyingwhatanotherhadalreadydone.\"Ifthatishispractice,\"hecommented,\"hisworkwillneverlive.\"Thesamemotivemadehimamasteroflanguages.Tobeabletoreadatfirsthandthewritingsofothernations,helearnedGerman,French,Italian,andGreek.OneofthechiefreasonsforlearningtoreadGreekwastoseeforhimselfifAristotlereallydidsaythatthehearthadonlythreechambers——anerror,hediscovered,notofAristotle,butofthetranslator.Itwas,moreover,thescholarinHuxleywhichmadehimimpatientofnarrow,half—formed,foggyconclusions.Hisownworkhasallthebreadthandfreedomanduniversalityofthescholar,butithas,also,aqualityequallydistinctiveofthescholar,namely,aninfiniteprecisioninthematterofdetail.
IfloveoftruthmadeHuxleyascholar,itmadehim,also,acourageousfighter.Man’sfirstduty,ashesawit,wastoseekthetruth;hissecondwastoteachittoothers,and,ifnecessary,tocontendvaliantlyforit.Tofailtoteachwhatyouhonestlyknowtobetrue,becauseitmayharmyourreputation,orevenbecauseitmaygivepaintoothers,iscowardice.\"Iamnotgreatlyconcernedaboutanyreputation,\"Huxleywritestohiswife,\"exceptthatofbeingentirelyhonestandstraightforward.\"
RegardlessofwarningsthatthepublicationofMan’sPlaceinNaturewouldruinhiscareer,Huxleypassedontootherswhatnaturehadrevealedtohim.Hewasregardless,also,oftheconfusionandpainwhichhisviewwouldnecessarilybringtothosewhohadbeennourishedinoldtraditions.Tostandwithamanortwoandtodobattlewiththeworldonthescoreofitsoldbeliefs,hasneverbeenaneasytasksincetheworldbegan.
Certainlyitrequiredfearlessnessanddeterminationtowrestlewiththeprejudicesagainstscienceinthemiddleofthenineteenthcentury——howmuchmaybegatheredfromthereadingofDarwin’sLifeandLetters.Theattitudeofthetimestowardsciencehasalreadybeenindicated.Onemayheallowedtogiveonemoreexamplefromthereportedaddressofaclergyman.\"Oyemenofscience,yemenofscience,leaveusourancestorsinparadise,andyoumayhaveyoursinZoologicalgardens.\"Thewarwas,forthemostpart,betweentheclergyandthemenofscience,butitisnecessarytorememberthatHuxleyfoughtnotagainstChristianity,butagainstdogma;thathefoughtnotagainstthepast,——hehadgreatreverencefortheaccomplishmentofthepast,——butagainstunwillingnesstoacceptthenewtruthofthepresent.
Ascholarofthehighesttypeandafearlessdefenderoftrueandhonestthinking,Huxleycertainlywas:butthequalitywhichgivesmeaningtohiswork,whichmakesitlive,isacertainhumanqualityduetothefactthatHuxleywasalwayskeenlyalivetotherelationofsciencetotheproblemsoflife.Forthisreason,hewasnotcontentwiththemereacquirementofknowledge;andforthisreason,also,hecouldnotquietlywaituntiltheworldshouldcometohiswayofthinking.Muchofthetime,therefore,whichhewouldotherwisenaturallyhavespentinresearch,hespentincontendingforandinendeavoringtopopularizethefactsofscience.ItwasthisdesiretomakehisideasprevailthatledHuxleytoworkforamasteryofthetechniqueofspeakingandwriting.Hehatedboth,buttaughthimselftodobothwell.Theendofallhisinfinitepainsabouthiswritingwasnotbecausestyleforitsownsakeisworthwhile,butbecausehesawthattheonlywaytowinmentoaconsiderationofhismessagewastomakeitperfectlyclearandattractivetothem.Huxley’smessagetothepeoplewasthathappiness,usefulness,andevenmaterialprosperitydependuponanunderstandingofthelawsofnature.Healsotaughtthataknowledgeofthefactsofscienceisthesoundestbasisformorallaw;thataclearsenseofthepenaltieswhichNatureinflictsfordisobedienceofherlawsmusteventuallybethegreatestforceforthepurificationoflife.Ifhewastoberemembered,therefore,hedesiredthatheshouldberememberedprimarilyasonewhohadhelpedthepeople\"tothinktrulyandtoliverightly.\"Huxley’swritingis,then,somethingmorethanascholarlyexpositionofabstrusematter;forithasbeenfurtherdevotedtotheincreasingofman’scapacityforusefulness,andtothebettermentofhislifehereonearth.
II
SUBJECT—MATTER,STRUCTURE,ANDSTYLE
Fromthepointofviewofsubject—matter,structure,andstyle,Huxley’sessaysareadmirablyadaptedtotheusesofthestudentinEnglish.Thethemesoftheessaysaretwo,educationandscience.
InthesetwosubjectsHuxleyearnestlysoughttoarouseinterestandtoimpartknowledge,becausehebelievedthatintelligenceinthesemattersisessentialfortheadvancementoftheraceinstrengthandmorality.Bothsubjects,therefore,shouldbevaluabletothestudent.Ineducation,certainly,heshouldbeinterested,sinceitishismainoccupation,ifnothischiefconcern.EssayslikeALiberalEducationandThePrincipalSubjectsofEducationmaysuggesttohimthemeaningofallhiswork,andmaysuggest,also,thethingswhichitwouldbewellforhimtoknow;and,evenmore,aconsiderationofthesesubjectsmayarousehimtoagreaterinterestandresponsibilitythanheusuallyassumestowardhisownmentalequipment.Ofgreaterinterestprobablywillbethesubjectswhichdealwithnature;forthewaysofnaturearemorenearlywithintherangeofhisrealconcernsthanarethewhereforesofstudy.Thestoryoftheformationofapieceofchalk,thesubstancewhichliesatthebasisofalllife,thehabitsofseaanimals,areallsubjectsthenatureofwhichisakintohisowneagerinterestintheworld.
UndoubtedlythesubjectsaboutwhichHuxleywriteswill\"appeal\"tothestudent;butitisinanalysisthattherealdisciplinelies.
ForanalysisHuxley’sessaysareexcellent.Theyillustrate\"theclearpowerofexposition,\"andsuchpoweris,asHuxleywrotetoTyndall,theonequalitythepeoplewant,——exposition\"soclearthattheymaythinktheyunderstandeveniftheydon’t.\"Huxleyobtainsthatperfectclearnessinhisownworkbysimpledefinition,bykeepingsteadilybeforehisaudiencehisintention,andbymakingplainthroughouthislectureawell—definedorganicstructure.NoX—raymachineisneedfultomaketheskeletonvisible;itstandsforthwiththepartsallnicelyrelatedandcompactlyjoined.Inreferencetostructure,hissonandbiographerwrites,\"Helovedtovisualizehisobjectclearly.Theframeworkofwhathewishedtosaywouldalwaysbedrawnoutfirst.\"ProfessorRayLankesteralsomentionsHuxley’sloveofform.\"HedealswithformnotonlyasamechanicalengineerIN
PARTIBUS(Huxley’sowndescriptionofhimself),butalsoasanartist,abornloverofform,acharacterwhichothersrecognizeinhimthoughhedoesnothimselfsetitdowninhisanalysis.\"
Huxley’sownaccountofhiseffortstoshapehisworkissuggestive.\"ThefactisthatIhaveagreatloveandrespectformynativetongue,andtakegreatpainstouseitproperly.
SometimesIwriteessayshalf—a—dozentimesbeforeIcangetthemintopropershape;andIbelieveIbecomemorefastidiousasIgrowolder.\"And,indeed,thereisamarkeddifferenceinfirmnessofstructurebetweentheearlieressays,suchasOntheEducationalValueoftheNaturalHistorySciences,written,asHuxleyacknowledges,ingreathaste,andthelateressays,suchasA
LiberalEducationandTheMethodofScientificInvestigation.Totraceandtodefinethisdifferencewillbemosthelpfultothestudentwhoisbuildingupaknowledgeofstructureforhisownuse.
AccordingtoHuxley’sbiographerintheLifeandLettersofThomasHenryHuxley,theessayswhichrepresenthimathisbestarethosepublishedin1868.TheyareAPieceofChalk,ALiberalEducation,andOnthePhysicalBasisofLife.InconnectionwiththecommentontheseessaysisthefollowingquotationwhichgivesoneinterestinginformationastoHuxley’smethodofobtainingaclearstyle:——
ThislectureonAPieceofChalktogetherwithtwoothersdeliveredthisyear,seemstometomarkthematuringofhisstyleintothatmasteryofclearexpressionforwhichhedeliberatelylabored,thesayingexactlywhathemeant,neithertoomuchnortoolittle,withoutconfusionandwithoutobscurity.Havesomethingtosay,andsayit,wastheDukeofWellington’stheoryofstyle;Huxley’swastosaythatwhichhastobesaidinsuchlanguagethatyoucanstandcross—examinationoneachword.Beclear,thoughyoumaybeconvictedoferror.Ifyouareclearlywrong,youwillrunupagainstafactsometimeandgetsetright.Ifyoushufflewithyoursubject,andstudychieflytouselanguagewhichwillgivealoopholeofescapeeitherway,thereisnohopeforyou.
Thiswasthesecretofhislucidity.InnoonecouldBuffon’saphorismonstylefindabetterillustration,Lestylec’estl’hommememe.Inhimscienceandliterature,toooftendivorced,werecloselyunited;andliteratureoweshimadebtforimportingintoitsomuchofthehighestscientifichabitofmind;forshowingthattruthfulnessneednotbebald,andthatrealpowerliesmoreinexactaccuracythaninluxurianceofdiction.
Huxley’sowntheoryastohowclearnessistobeobtainedgetsattherootofthematter.\"Formypart,Iventuretodoubtthewisdomofattemptingtomouldone’sstylebyanyotherprocessthanthatofstrivingaftertheclearandforcibleexpressionofdefiniteconceptions;inwhichprocesstheGlassianprecept,firstcatchyourdefiniteconception,isprobablythemostdifficulttoobey.\"
Perfectclearness,aboveeveryotherqualityofstyle,certainlyischaracteristicofHuxley;butclearnessalonedoesnotmakesubject—matterliterature.Inadditiontothisquality,Huxley’swritingwinsthereaderbytheracydiction,thehomelyillustration,theplain,honestphrasing.Alltheseandotherqualitiesbringoneintoanintimaterelationshipwithhissubject.
Amanofvasttechnicallearning,heisstillsointerestedintherelationofhisfactstotheproblemsofmenthatheisalwaysabletoinfuselifeintothedriestofsubjects,inotherwords,toHUMANIZEhisknowledge;andintheestimationofMatthewArnold,thisisthetrueworkofthescholar,thehighestmissionofstyle.
III
SUGGESTEDSTUDIESINSUBJECT—MATTER,STRUCTURE,ANDSTYLE
AlthoughfullyrealizingthatthequestionsheregivenareonlysuchasaregenerallyusedeverywherebyinstructorsinEnglish,theeditorhas,nevertheless,includedthemwiththehopethatsomeonemayfindthemhelpful.
Thestudiesgivenincludeafewgeneralquestionsandsuggestionsonsubject—matter,structure,andstyle.Thequestionsonstructurearebasedonananalysisofthewholecompositionandoftheparagraph;thoseonstylearebasedonastudyofsentencesandwords.Suchadivisionofmaterialmayseemunwarranted;for,itmaybeurged,firmnessofstructuredepends,toacertainextent,uponsentence—formandwords;andclearnessofstyle,toalargeextent,upontheformoftheparagraphandwholecomposition.Thetwo,certainly,cannotbeinjusticeseparated;andespeciallyisittrue,moredeeplytruethantheaveragestudentcanbebroughttobelieve,thatstructure,\"MIND,instyle\"asPaterphrasesit,primarilydeterminesnotonlyclearness,butalsosuchqualitiesofstyleasreserve,refinement,andsimpleDoricbeauty.Since,however,structureismoreobviouslyassociatedwiththelargergroups,andstylewiththesmaller,thequestionshavebeenarrangedaccordingtothisdivision.
I.SuggestionsfortheStudyofSubject—Matter.
1.TowhomdoesHuxleyaddresstheessay?
2.Canyouseeanyadaptationofhismaterialtohisaudience?
3.HowwouldAPieceofChalkbedifferentlypresentedifgivenbeforeascienceclub?
4.DoesHuxleymakehissubjectinteresting?Ifso,howdoesheaccomplishthis?
5.IsthepersonalityofHuxleysuggestedbytheessays?SeeLifeandLetters,vol.ii,p.293.
II.SuggestionsfortheStudyofStructure.
A.Analysisofthewholecomposition.
1.Stateinonecompletesentencethethemeoftheessay.
2.Analyzetheessayforthelogicaldevelopmentofthethought.
a.QuestionsontheIntroduction.
Intheintroduction,howdoestheauthorapproachhismaterial?
Doeshegivethemainpointsoftheessay?
Doeshegivehisreasonsforwriting?
Doeshenarrowhissubjecttoonepointofview?
Istheintroductionadigression?
b.QuestionsontheBody.
Canyoufindlargegroupsofthought?
Arethesegroupscloselyrelatedtothethemeandtoeachother?
Doyoufindanydigressions?
Isthemethodusedindevelopingthegroupsinductiveordeductive?
Isthemethoddifferentindifferentgroups?
Arethegroupsarrangedforgoodemphasisinthewholecomposition?
c.QuestionsontheConclusion.
Howdoestheauthorconcludetheessay?
Doestheconclusionsumupthepointsoftheessay?
Areanynewpointssuggested?
Isthethoughtofthewholeessaystated?
Doyouconsideritastrongconclusion?
3.Makeoutanoutlinewhichshallpicturetheskeletonoftheessaystudied.Inmakingtheoutlineexpressthetopicsintheformofcompletestatements,phrasethethoughtforclearsequence,andbecarefulaboutsuchmattersasspacingandpunctuation.
B.Analysisofparagraphstructure.
1.Canaparagraphbeanalyzedinthesamemannerasthewholecomposition?
2.Canyouexpressthethoughtofeachparagraphinacompletesentence?
3.Canyoufinddifferentpointspresentedintheparagraphdevelopingtheparagraphtopic,asthelargegroupsofthewholecompositiondevelopthetheme?
4.Aretheparagraphscloselyrelated,andhowaretheyboundtogether?
5.Cananyoftheparagraphsbecombinedtoadvantage?
6.ReadfromBarrettWendell’sEnglishCompositionthechapteronparagraphs.AreHuxley’sparagraphsconstructedinaccordancewiththeprinciplesgiveninthischapter?
7.Istheparagraphtypevaried?Forparagraphtypes,seeScottandDenny’sParagraphWriting.
C.Comparativestudyofthestructureoftheessay.
1.DoyoufindanydifferencebetweenHuxley’searlierandlateressaysasregardsthestructureofthewhole,orthestructureoftheparagraph?
2.Whichessayseemstoyoutobemostsuccessfulinstructure?
3.Hasthecharacteroftheaudienceanyinfluenceuponthestructureoftheessays?
4.ComparethestructureofoneofHuxley’sessayswiththatofsomeotheressayrecentlystudied.
5.Hasthenatureofthematerialanyinfluenceuponthestructureoftheessay?
III.SuggestionsfortheStudyofStyle.