INTRODUCTION 



I 



In his Autobiography, the opening selection in this 

 volume, Huxley gives what he considers an a,dequate 

 account of his life. His article, however, while setting 

 forth the main influences in his life and what he considers 

 his chief achievements, is so modestly written that it does 

 not give present-day readers an intimate enough view of 

 this really great man and his valuable scientific work. 

 To fill in the details necessary to present such a picture 

 will be the aim of this sketch. 



Of his childhood and early education Huxley says very 

 little in the Autobiography; indeed, of the latter there 

 was little to say, so scanty had been the amount of his 

 instruction. As a boy, however, he was an omnivorous 

 reader and showed an inquiring turn of mind. At twelve 

 years of age he awoke early to read in bed Hutton's Geology. 

 A few years later he read Hamilton's Logic to such good 

 effect that he acquired at this early age the beginning 

 of what was to be a lasting interest in metaphysics. Such 

 facts show the unusual mental keenness of young Huxley, 

 but there are no records to prove him precocious. 



When fifteen he began to keep a fragmentary journal 

 which now furnishes an interesting glimpse into his life. 

 Here one reads of his teaching himself German, of his 



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