Characterisation, especially by Letters 



481 



going to a special "crammer" up to nearly the last moment, and the other is to require 

 a sufficiency of special knowledge. 



This is accomplished in some cases by two examinations, the one at a comparatively early 

 age, to qualify for entering; the second one which is special, and not so severe, but that every 

 lad who passed the first might be expected to succeed in the second. Then if he failed in the 

 first, he would be in the same position as other boys who looked forward to any one of 

 a multiplicity of possible careers. No one however seems satisfied with what is now done either 

 in the Government examinations or in the public school teaching; but no one here has yet had 

 the wit to suggest a course that commends itself to the general judgment as an improvement. 

 The question is apparently a most involved one; so many interests and prospects being seriously 

 affected by any change of system. 



As regards the particular question you put, as to any satisfactory employment for a person 

 having the high qualifications you mention, clearly they must exist in abundance, but personally 

 I have not any one of them distinctly in view at present. I should have thought that a private 

 secretaryship to some political person would be eminently a post to try for, or that to some 

 person in the higher branches of commerce or manufacture, who has varied foreign connections. 

 All such posts give a young man excellent opportunities for afterwards succeeding by his own 

 efforts, and adequately educated candidates for them are hardly equal in number to the demand. 



In concluding let me express the great pleasure that it gave me to receive your kind letter, 

 for there are now few persons whose sympathy I prize more than your own on those many 

 subjects in which we feel a common interest. You say nothing of your health but I trust 

 and believe that it is maintained more fully by far than in the great majority of your con- 

 temporaries. Believe me, very faithfully yours, Francis Galton. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. January 25, 1890. 



Dearest Emma, I have hardly anything to tell, owing to being so shut up and seeing and 

 hearing nothing. I am glad that at least one of the three brothers, Erasmus, is well again. There 

 is ever so much spasmodic asthma with me, it comes on so oddly 

 and violently and then goes. I wish it would say "good bye" 

 finally. 



I am trying to get a grand display of weather information stuck 

 on to the balcony of our office in Victoria St. I have long wanted 

 to show, as soon as it arrives, the weather on the coasts near 

 to London. It does not get into the newspapers until five hours 

 after we receive it. My colleagues agree, and it is now a question of 

 detail. I carpentered a board in the proposed way, and painted the 

 lettering thus [see figure below] and we had it up for inspection on 

 Wednesday. Literally on passing the turn to Victoria Station I could 

 see the glimmer of the board all that distance off!! — a good i mile. 

 I propose to give the facts for Yarmouth, Dover, the Needles, Scilly, 

 Valencia, Holyhead ; all the ways of 



Valencia 





changing the slips are worked out and 



feasible, but there are still some details 



to be fixed and the written permission 



of the landlord to be obtained. The 



slips would be changed at 8.30 a.m., 



3 p.m., and in summer at 8 p.m. It 



would make much difference to many 



persons to know this: for instance, if 



doubting whether to cross by Dover or 



Harwich or Newhaveo. I am sorry that 



you think Tertius* not well. I do hope 



that Bessy and you continue all right. It is grievous about Temple'sf eyes. How depressing 



eye ailments are. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



* Galton's nephew, Tertius Galton Moilliet, son of his sister Lucy Harriot Galton, wife of 

 James Moilliet of Cheney Court, co. Hereford. 



t A maid of Emma Galton, who had been many years in her service. 



p a in 61 



NE 

 "FRESH MttE 



sea moderate 



