INTRODUCTION xili 



important did he consider this matter that he sought suc- 

 cessfully for election to the first London School Board in 

 1870. He filled this important place with distinction, 

 but only for a short time, being forced to retire by the 

 breaking of his health. Notwithstanding his short term of 

 service, his influence upon English education was enormous 

 and lasting, for to-day many of the best features of the 

 English educational system are those advocated by Huxley. 

 His work for education included the training of teachers 

 and pupils in science by actual work in a laboratory, then 

 a new departure, but now considered the only possible 

 method. 



Under the strain of this enormous amount of work, 

 Huxley's health broke again. A complete rest being 

 necessary, he visited Egypt and stopped in Italy on his 

 way home. The money for this trip was presented to 

 him by a few of his friends. Upon his return with health 

 restored, he at once plunged into his usual round of in- 

 cessant activity. Further recognition came to him too. 

 He was made Lord Rector of Aberdeen University, and 

 honorary degrees were bestowed upon him by the Uni- 

 versities of Dublin and Edinburgh. 



In 1876 Huxley paid a visit to the United States to de- 

 liver an address at the opening of Johns Hopkins University, 

 Baltimore. He also delivered a few other addresses in 

 other cities. He was much interested in Professor Marsh's 

 collection of fossils at Yale College, by means of v/hich 

 Marsh had established the American origin of the horse. 

 The truths here presented to Huxley for the first time 

 were so convincing that he rewrote at once a lecture he was 

 to deliver in New York on the geological history of the 

 horse. His reception everywhere was enthusiastic, due 

 to the widespread acquaintance of the American people 



