LIFE OF DARWIN. 101 



" Early to bed, and early to rise," was his essentially, and 

 regularity kept all balanced. Rising at six, he took a 

 cold plunge bath, breakfasted simply, and took a first 

 walk, beginning work often at eight. " Later in the 

 day," I quote from Mr. Woodall's pleasant pages, " he 

 generally walked again, often in his own grounds, but 

 sometimes further afield, and then generally by quiet 

 footpaths rather than frequented roads. The walks at 

 one time were varied by rides along the lanes on a 

 favourite black cob, but some years before his death his 

 four-footed friend fell, and died by the roadside, and 

 from that day the habit of riding was given up. Part of 

 the evening was devoted to his family and his friends, 

 who delighted to gather round him to enjoy the charm 

 of his bright intelligence, and his unrivalled stores of 

 knowledge. To Down, occasionally, came distinguished 

 men from many lands ; and there in later years would 

 sometimes be found the younger generation of scientific 

 students, looking up to the great naturalist with the 

 reverence of disciples, who had experienced his singular 

 modesty, his patient readiness to listen to all opinions, 

 and the winning grace with which he informed their 

 ignorance and corrected their mistakes. In the midst 

 of all the delights of home and the demands of study, 

 Darwin kept an open mind for public affairs. He united 

 the earnest politician with the patient student : a rare 

 combination, which supplies another proof of his largeness 

 of heart and sympathy with his fellow men. In the 

 village of Down he was liked by everybody, old and 

 young, and in his own household the same servants 

 lived year after year under his roof. One of them, 



