INTRODUCTION xi 



physical virtue is the base of all other, and that they are to 

 be clean and temperate and all the rest not because fel- 

 lows in black with white ties tell them so, but because there 

 are plain and patent laws which they must obey 'under 

 penalty.'" The inauguration of these popular lectures, the 

 founding of museums, the opening of laboratories, the striv- 

 ing for a sane education of the masses, give him high rank 

 as a man who worked not for self alone. "If I am to be 

 remembered at all," he once wrote, "I would rather it should 

 be as a man who did his best to help the people than by any 

 other title." 



Bearing the burden of the battle for Evolution, Huxley 

 led a life of rights and skirmishes. It is pleasant while think- 

 ing of the assaults made upon his religious belief to read the 

 words of his old friend, Alexander Macmillan : "I tell you 

 there is so much real Christianity in Huxley that if it were 

 parcelled out among all the men, women and children in the 

 British Islands, there would be enough to save the soul of 

 every one of them, and plenty to spare !" 



HUXLEY THE WRITER 



This volume will probably serve many as an introduction 

 to the writings of great scientists. It is unlike some other 

 forms of literary composition, the novel, the poem, the 

 play. The so-called literary element does not force itself 

 upon one's attention ; here a scientist is speaking in concise, 

 precise terms. Huxley once said that science and literature 

 are two sides of the same thing ; he certainly has taken pains 

 to give us his scientific findings in rare literary style. Sir 

 Spencer Walpole once said that Huxley had a command of 

 style which "made him the greatest master of prose of his 

 time." To deserve such commendation, Huxley was com- 

 pelled to practice severe self-discipline. "Sometimes I write 



