10 GEOEGE JOHN KOMANES 1873 



more than twenty years later in the last days of his 

 life. 



The essay was successful, and its author was more 

 than once claimed as a champion of faith on the 

 strength of it. 



It is a very hard bit of reading, and of course has 

 to some extent the drawback of a prize essay, a work 

 written not simply to convince the public, but to 

 impress examiners. It is full of knowledge and of 

 intellectual agility, but is perhaps needlessly difficult 

 in style. His success was absolutely unexpected by 

 his family, and made him very happy, as the following 

 letters show, written in the first glow of success. 



To Mrs. Romanes. 



18 Cornwall Terrace. 



My dearest Mother, Your letter of surprise and 

 rejoicing has been to me one of the best parts of the 

 result. All the letters of congratulation which are 

 now coming in mention you : ' How delighted your 

 mother will be,' &c. ; and it is a great thing for me 

 to find that you are so. Without appreciative sym- 

 pathy success soon palls ; but the two combined go 

 to make up the best happiness. 



I went to Cambridge yesterday to get the 

 manuscript, and as there happened to be a congrega- 

 tion in the afternoon, I also took my degree. I saw 

 all my friends, who were overflowing with delight. 

 Indeed, I never before realised how great the compe- 

 tition is, for I never had an opportunity of knowing 

 how the successful man is lionised. The Caius dons 

 especially are up in the air about it, as this is the first 



