DEATH 241 



and of others to keep their heads cool. The only would-be 

 servants, who are entirely unprofitable, are those who do not 

 take the trouble to interrogate Nature, but imagine vain things 

 about her ; and spin, from their inner consciousness, webs, as 

 exquisitely symmetrical as those of the most geometrical of 

 spiders, but, alas ! as easily torn to pieces by some unconsidered 

 bluebottle of a fact." 



1895. 



Huxley's last work partly had reference to the question 

 of a University for London, and partly consisted of a 

 review on Mr. A. J. Balfour's book on the Foundations of 

 Belief. Of this the first half, " Mr. Balfour's Attack on 

 Agnosticism," appeared in the Nineteenth Century for 

 March, but his last illness prevented completion of the 

 second part. 



Influenza and bronchitis attacked him in March, the 

 unusually severe winter emphasizing their effect. 

 Although successfully thrown off, as such, they led to 

 heart trouble and other complications, which ultimately 

 proved fatal on June 29. The funeral took place at 

 Finchley, on July 4, and the reading of the service by 

 Mr. Llewellyn Davies constituted the only ceremony. 

 In accordance with his expressed desire, three lines from 

 a poem by his wife were added to the formal inscription 

 on the tombstone : — 



*' Be not afraid, ye waiting hearts that weep ; 

 For still He giveth His beloved sleep, 

 And if an endless sleep He wills, so best." 



