262 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap. XI 



My sagacious grand -daughter Joyce (gone home now) 

 observed to her grandmother some time ago — " I don't 

 want to gi'ow up." " Why don't you want to grow up ? " 

 " Because I notice that grown-up people have a great deal 

 of trouble." Sagacious philosopheress of 7 ! — Ever yours 

 affectionately, T. H. Huxley, 



HoDESLEA, Eastbourne, 

 A2}ril 3, 1892. 



My dear Hooker — As I so often tell my wife, " your 

 confounded sense of duty will be the ruin of you." You 

 really, club or no club, had no basiness to be travelling in 

 such a bitter east wind. However, I hope the recent 

 sunshine has set you up again. 



Barring snow or any other catastrophe, I will be at 

 "the Club" dinner on the 26th and help elect the P.R.S. 

 I don't think I go more than once a year, and like you I 

 find the smaller the pleasanter meetings. 



I was very sorry to see Bowman's death. What a 

 first-rate man of science he would have been if the 

 Professorship at King's College had been £1000 a year. 

 But it was mere starvation when he held it. 



I am glad to say that my wife is much better — thank 

 yours for her very kind sympathy. I was very down the 

 last time I wrote to you. — Ever yours affectionately, 



T. H. Huxley. 



HoDESLEA, June 27, 1892, 



My dear Foster — My wife has been writing to Mrs. 

 Foster to arrange for your visit, which will be heartily 

 welcome. 



Now I don't want to croak. No one knows better 

 than I, the fatal necessity for any one in your position : 

 more than that, the duty in many cases of plunging into 

 public functions, and all the guttle, guzzle, and gammon 

 therewith connected. 



