348 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap. XIII 



These things are the " lachrymae rerum " — the abysmal 

 griefs hidden under the current of daily life, and seemingly 

 forgotten, till now and then they come up to the surface 

 — a flash of agony — like the fish that jumps in a calm 

 pool. 



One has one's groan and goes to work again. 



If I knew of anything else for it, I would tell you ; 

 but aU my experience ends in the questionable thanks- 

 giving, " It's lucky it's no worse." 



With which bit of practical philosophy, and our love, 

 believe me, ever yours affectionately, 



T. H. Huxley. 



Before speaking of his last piece of work, in the 

 vain endeavour to complete which he exposed him- 

 self to his old enemy, influenza, I shall give several 

 letters of miscellaneous interest. 



The first is in reply to Lord Farrer's inquiry as 

 to where he could obtain a fuller account of the 

 subject tersely discussed in the chapter he had 

 contributed to the Life of Owen} 



HoDESLEA, Jan. 26, 1895. 

 Mt dear Farrer — Miserable me ! Having addressed 

 myself to clear oif a heap of letters that have been 

 accumulating, I find I have not answered an inquiry of 

 yours of nearly a month's standing. I am sorry to say 

 that I cannot tell you of any book (readable or otherwise) 

 that will convert my " pemmican " into decent broth for 

 you. 



^ "Which," wrote Lord F.in-er, "is just what I wanted as 

 an outline of the Biological and Morphological discussion of the 

 last 100 years. But it is ' Pemmican ' to an aged and enfeebled 

 digestion. Is there such a thing as a diluted solution of it in the 

 shape of any readable book ? " 



