I 



1892 ON SCIENTIFIC ASPIRATIONS 245 



come and try Eastbourne air as soon as we are settled. 

 With our love to you and Mrs. Donnelly — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Better be careful, I return all letters on which RH.^ 

 is not in fulL 



The next is to a young man with aspirations after 

 an intellectual career, who asked his advice as to the 

 propriety of throwing up his business, and plunging 

 into literature or science : — 



HoDESLEA, Eastbourne, 



Nov. 5, 1892. 



Dear Sir — I am very sorry that the pressure of other 

 occupations has prevented me from sending an earlier 

 reply to your letter. 



In my opinion a man's first duty is to find a way of 

 supporting himself, thereby relieving other people of the 

 necessity of supporting him. Moreover, the learning to 

 do work of practical value in the world, in an exact and 

 careful manner, is of itself a very important education, 

 the effects of which make themselves felt in all other 

 pursuits. The habit of doing that which you do not care 

 about when you would much rather be doing something 

 else, is invaluable. It would have saved me a frightful 

 waste of time if I had ever had it drilled into me in 

 youth. 



Success in any scientific career requires an unusual 

 equipment of capacity, industry, and energy. If you 

 possess that equipment you will find leisure enough after 

 your daily commercial work is over, to make an opening 

 in the scientific ranks for yourself. If you do not, you 

 had better stick to commerce. Nothing is less to be 

 desired than the fate of a young man, who, as the Scotch 

 proverb says, in " trying to make a spoon spoils a horn," 



^ An allusion to Ms recent Privy Councillorship See p. 247. 



