DARWIN'S ORIGIN OF SPECIES 229 



on the further side, we survey the scene and are compelled to 

 recognize pathos as the ruling feature." ..." There were 

 sons of great men to whom the new thoughts brought deepest 

 grief, men who struggled tenaciously and indomitably against 

 them. And full many a household unknown to fame was the 

 scene of the same poignant contrast, was torn by the same 

 dramatic conflict." 



Section II. deals with the personality of Charles Darwin. 

 This is perhaps, from the general standpoint, one of the most 

 fascinating chapters in the book. 



In Section III. Professor Poulton controverts, and we think 

 successfully so, the old and oft-repeated error that between the 

 love of science and the love of literature there is an incom- 

 patibility which renders the pursuit of both impossible. The 

 author goes to great pains to show that Darwin's attitude to 

 art and literature in his later life has been greatly misrepresented, 

 and even indeed perverted. There seems to be a widely 

 prevalent idea that the nearly exclusive study of science 

 leads to a loss of appreciation of poetry or music. Probably no 

 greater error was ever promulgated as a general statement, and 

 certainly not as a particular one applicable to Charles Darwin. 

 Professor Poulton shows that it has no foundation. On the 

 other hand, we believe there are, perhaps, some cases, where it 

 could be more truthfully contended that the study of science 

 succeeded in arousing dormant faculties and in exciting a love 

 of music, poetry, and literature. For there have been persons 

 in whom there existed little appreciation of the beauties of the 

 arts until they had succeeded in arousing their interests in 

 science. But the truth of the matter is probably not to be found 

 in considerations of the influence of the pursuit of science upon 

 literary faculties, or vice versa. It is probably not a matter of 

 training or of general education. It is one which doubtless finds 

 its explanation in the nature of the person himself. If a man 

 inwardly loves both science and literature he will appreciate 

 both. If he has a passion for the rigid analytical work of science 

 and also for the flowing rhythm and expansive conceptions of 

 poetry, he will find pleasure in the practice of both, in their due 

 seasons. It would not be difficult to name an eminent German 

 scientist, whose love of art was so great that the precision and 

 accuracy of his scientific records were sometimes in danger in 

 consequence. We need only recall the name and work of 

 Tyndall to remind us that beauty and fire of literary expression, 

 combined with a poetic fervour, are consistent and compatible 

 with a scientific training and a life devoted to science. But 

 after all, however varied may be our interests, what we can 

 actually accomplish is determined by the shortness of life and tlie 



