XX 



THE PLEASURES OF LIFE " 239 



nations to think more worthily and to live more 

 happily. It is difficult to say what human work 

 is justified if such result as this may not be taken 

 to approve it. Possibly, so far as Lord Avebury's 

 repute as a writer is concerned, it is to be regretted 

 that he is known more widely as the author of 

 these composite books than of such serious and 

 original work as is contained in Prehistoric Times, 

 in The Origin of Civilisation, and the books which 

 record his studies in the intelligence and the 

 biology of the lower animals, and in the laws 

 which control growth in plants. 



Does it seem surprising, even when so few of 

 the directions of his industry as the above are 

 named, that the characteristic of Lord Avebury's 

 mind and life which has been most often re- 

 marked is his wonderful versatility ? In one of 

 the multitude of letters of appreciation and of 

 sympathy received by Lady Avebury after his 

 death the line occurs : " He touched life at every 

 point." I think, if we carefully study his career 

 and know his life, we shall be obliged to realise 

 that this is a statement which has to be taken 

 with much reserve ; that it is, in fact, a eulogy 

 more generous than just. 



His versatility was extraordinary — that is 

 above all dispute — but it had its limits, and these 

 limits were strict. It is part, as I think, of that 

 economy of power and of time which enabled hirn 

 to achieve so much, that he should have set 

 himself these limits. If we consider his outlook, 

 we have to see that many human interests were 

 not represented in it at all. All the beauties of 

 Nature and of scenery were objects of keenest 



