PROFESSOR VIRCHOW AND EVOLUTION 403 



matics and physics had been picked up: my stock of 

 both was, however, scanty, and I resolved to augment 

 it. But it was really with the view of learning whether 

 mathematics and physics could help me in other spheres, 

 rather than with the desire of acquiring distinction in 

 either science, that I ventured, in 1848, to break the 

 continuity of my life, and devote the meagre funds then 

 at my disposal to the study of science in Germany. 



But science soon fascinated me on its own account. 

 To carry it duly and honestly out, moral qualities were 

 incessantly invoked. There was no room allowed for in- 

 sincerity no room even for carelessness. The edifice of 

 science had been raised by men who had unswervingly 

 followed the truth as it is in nature; and in doing so 

 had often sacrificed interests which are usually potent in 

 this world. 



Among these rationalistic men of Germany I found 

 conscientiousness in work as much insisted on as it could 

 be among theologians. And why, since they had not 

 the rewards or penalties of the theologian to offer to their 

 disciples? Because they assumed, and were justified in 

 assuming, that those whom they addressed had that within 

 them which would respond to their appeal. If Germany 

 should ever change for something less noble the simple 

 earnestness and fidelity to duty, which in those days char- 

 acterized her teachers, and through them her sons gener- 

 ally, it will not be because of rationalism. Such a de- 

 cadent Germany might coexist with the most rampant 

 rationalism without their standing to each other in the 

 relation of cause and effect. 



My first really laborious investigation, conducted jointly 

 with my friend Professor Knoblauch, landed me in a re- 



