308 SCIENCE IX SHORT CHAPTERS. 



Those who were on intimate terms with Babbage (I have never met 

 or heard of such a person) could probably tell us that all his irrita- 

 bility and roughness was outside, and that, in the absence of organ- 

 grinders, he was a kind and amiable gentleman ; but, even admitting 

 this, the contrast between the two philosophers is as great as could 

 well be found between any two men following the most widely 

 divergent studies or professions. 



Those who would reply that mathematics and geology are such 

 different studies have only to go a little further back on the death- 

 roll, and they will find the name of De Morgan, a pure mathematician 

 like Babbage. He was a man of exuberant fun and humor, and so 

 far from hating music of either a humble or pretentious character, 

 was a highly accomplished musician, both theoretical and practical, 

 and if we are to believe confidential pornrnunications, one of hia 

 favorite instruments was the penny whistle, on which he was a most 

 original and peculiar performer. 



I had not intended to reprint the above, which was written just 

 after the death of Murchison and Babbage, but the comments that 

 have recently followed the death of Darwin induce me to do so. 



Many have expressed their surprise at the unanimous expressions 

 of Darwin's friends concerning the geniality of his disposition, his 

 gentleness, cheerfulness ; his genuine humility and simplicity of 

 character. 



A third type of character is here presented, and that which corre- 

 sponds most correctly with the true ideal of a modern philosopher, 

 also represented by that great master of experimental science, Fara- 

 day. In both of these there was the full measure of Murchison's 

 amiability, but without the courtly polish of the ex-soldier. Phil- 

 osophic meditation and close application to original research may, 

 and often does, induce a certain degree of shyness due to a conscious- 

 ness of the social disqualification which arises from that inability to 

 fulfil all the demands for small attentions which constitute conven- 

 tional politeness ; a disability due to habits of consecutive thought 

 and mental abstraction. 



A sensitive and amiable man would suffer much pain on finding 

 that he had neglected to supply the small wants of the lady sitting 

 next to him at a dinner party, and would withdraw himself from the 

 risk of repeating such unwitting rudeness. This holding back from 

 ordinary society, though really due to a conscientious sense of social 

 duty and tender regard for the feelings of others is too often referred 

 to a churlish unsociality or arrogant assumption of superiority. 



If Newton really did mistake the lady's finger for a tobacco-stopper, 

 depend upon it the pain he suffered was far more acute than that 

 which he inflicted, and was suffered over and over again whenever 

 the incident was recollected. 



THE END. 



