i88g WRITES FROM THE MALOJA 253 



" Aged Botanist ! " marry come up ! * I should like to know 

 of a younger spark. The first time I heard myself called " the 

 old gentleman " was years ago when we were in South Devon. 

 A half-drunken Devonian had made himself very offensive, in 

 the compartment in which my wife and I were travelling, and 

 got some " simple Saxon " from me, accompanied, I doubt not, 

 by an awful scowl. " Ain't the old gentleman in a rage," says he. 



I am very glad to hear of Reggie's success, and my wife 

 joins with me in congratulations. It is a comfort to see one's 

 shoots planted out and taking root, though the idea that one's 

 cares and anxieties about them are diminished, we find to be 

 an illusion. 



I inclose cheque for my contributions due and to come.f If 

 I go to Davy's Locker before October, the latter may go for con- 

 solation champagne ! Ever yours affectionately, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



He writes from the Maloja on August 16 to Sir M. 

 Foster, who had been sitting on the Vaccination Com- 

 mission : 



I wonder how you are prospering, whether you have vaccina- 

 tion or anti-vaccination on the brain; or whether the gods have 

 prospered you so far as to send you on a holiday. We have been 

 here since the beginning of July. Monte Generoso proved lovely 

 but electrical. We had on the average three thunderstorms 

 every two days. Bellagio was as hot as the tropics, and we 

 stayed only a day, and came on here where, whatever else may 

 happen, it is never too hot. The weather has been good and I 

 have profited immensely, and at present I do not know whether 

 I have a heart or not. But I have to look very sharp after my 

 liver. H. Thompson, who has been here with his son Herbert 

 (clever fellow, by the way), treats the notion that I ever had a 

 dilated heart with scorn ! Oh these doctors ! they are worse 

 than theologians. 



And again on August 31 : 



I walked eighteen miles three or four days ago, and I think 

 nothing of one or two thousand feet up ! I hope this state of 

 things will last at the sea-level. 



* Sir J. Hooker jestingly congratulated him on taking up botany 

 in his old age. t For tne x Club. 



