VII 
THE COMING OF AGE OF “THE ORIGIN 
OF SPECIES ” 
[1880] 
Many of you will be familiar with the aspect of 
this small green-covered book. It is a copy of the 
first edition of the “Origin of Species,” and bears 
the date of its production—the 1st of October 
1859. Only a few months, therefore, are needed 
to complete the full tale of twenty-one years since 
its birthday. 
Those whose memories carry them back to this 
time will remember that the infant was remarkably 
lively, and that a great number of excellent per- 
sons mistook its manifestations of a vigorous 
individuality for mere naughtiness; in fact there 
was a very pretty turmoil about its cradle. My 
recollections of the period are particularly vivid ; 
for, having conceived a tender affection for a child 
_ of what appeared to me to be such remarkable 
promise, I acted for some time in the capacity of a 
Q 2 
