172 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. Vii 



You do not refer to the male mamma — which becomes 

 functional once in many million cases, see the curious 

 records of Gynsecomasty. Here practical disuse in the 

 male ever since the origin of the mammalia has not 

 abolished the mamma or destroyed its functional 

 potentiality in extremely rare cases. 



I absolutely disbelieve in use-inheritance as the evidence 

 stands. Spencer is bound to it a priori — his psychology 

 goes to pieces without it. 



Now as to the letter. I am no pessimist — but also 

 no optimist. The world might be much worse, and it 

 might be much better. Of moral purpose I see no trace 

 in Nature. That is an article of exclusively human manu- 

 facture — and very much to our credit. 



If you win accept the results of the experience of an 

 old man who has had a very chequered existence — and 

 has nothing to hope for except a few yeare of quiet down- 

 hill — there is nothing of permanent value (putting aside 

 a few human affections), nothing that satisfies quiet 

 reflection — except the sense of having worked according 

 to one's capacity and light, to make things clear and get 

 rid of cant and shams of all sorts. That was the lesson 

 I learned from Carlyle's books when I was a boy, and it 

 has stuck by me all my life. 



Therefore, my advice to you is go ahead. You may 

 make more of failing to get money, and of succeeding in 

 getting abuse — until such time in your life as (if you are 

 teachable) you have ceased to care much about either. 

 The job you propose to undertake is a big one, and will 

 tax all your energies and all your patience. 



But, if it were my case, I should take my chance of 

 failing in a worthy task rather than of succeeding in 

 lower things. 



And if at any time I can be of use to you (even to the 

 answering of letters) let me know. But in truth I am 

 getting rusty in science — from disuse. — Ever yours very 

 faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



J 



