1853-1859] William Darwin's Speech 171 



picture which he had bought himself and which he much 

 enjoyed looking at : he also criticised very acutely a certain 

 engraving. He used to laugh at modern decorative art 

 and always preferred simple forms and pure colours. 

 I remember once when he was staying with me at South- 

 ampton, when I and my wife were out of the house, he 

 went through the living-rooms and collected all the pieces 

 of china and chimney ornaments which he thought ugly, 

 and on our return he led us with much laughter into his 

 chamber of horrors. . . . 



I am sure my father would have said, though, perhaps, 

 with a tone of apology in his voice, that if there was to 

 be a [Darwin] celebration there could be no more fitting 

 place than Cambridge. He always retained a love for Cam- 

 bridge and a happy memory of his life here. It was the 

 happiest and gayest period of his life, and it certainly did 

 a great deal for the development of his mind. As regards 

 his academic studies, he used to speak of them with scant 

 respect, and, perhaps, rather unfairly. It is curious to 

 remember that the two subjects which he thought had done 

 most to develop his mind were Paley's Evidences of Chris- 

 tianity and Euclid, both of which subjects are, I believe, now 

 superseded as being obsolete. He valued more than any 

 other honour the degree that was conferred on him here, and 

 he spoke to me with pride and pleasure of walking, dressed 

 in his scarlet gown, arm and arm with Dr. Cartmell, the 

 Master of his old College. . . . 



Charles Darwin to Emma Darwin. 



Sunday, MOOR PARK [probably 1859]. 



I am very sorry to hear that you are headachy. A 

 scheme just came into my head, viz. that when I am back, 

 that you should come here for a fortnight's hydropathy. 

 Do you not think it might do you real good ? I could get 

 on perfectly with the children. You might bring Etty 

 with you. Think of this my own dearest wife. I wish 

 you knew how I value you; and what an inexpressible 



