Guessing at Half and Multiplying by Two 349 



or in his manner that would justify, or even excuse, 

 a more serious style of treatment. The only aspect 

 of his career which affords matter for grave reflec 

 tion is the ease with which he succeeded for a mo 

 ment in imposing on the credulity and in appealing 

 to the prejudices of his public. The eagerness 

 with which the orthodox world hailed the appear 

 ance of this new champion could not but remind 

 one, with sad emphasis, of Oxenstjern s famous re 

 mark : &quot; Quam parva sapientia mundus regitur ! &quot; 

 It is comforting to remember that one of the world s 

 greatest naturalists, Asa Gray, whose orthodoxy 

 is as unimpeachable as his science, very promptly 

 declared in print that such championship is some 

 thing of which orthodoxy has no reason to feel 

 proud. 



December, 1880. 



