Alfred Russel Wallace 



after reading his ' Darwinism,' then (early in 1890) recently 

 published. The book delighted me, but I found a number 

 of little matters to criticise and discuss, and with the im- 

 petuosity of youth proceeded to write to the author, and 

 also to send a letter on some of the points to Nature. I 

 have possibly not yet reached years of discretion, but in 

 the perspective of time I can see with confusion that what 

 I regarded as worthy zeal might well have been character- 

 ised by others as confounded impudence. In the face of 

 this, the tolerance and kindness of Dr. Wallace's reply is 

 wholly characteristic : ' I am very much obliged to you for 

 your letter containing so many valuable emendations and 

 suggestions on my " Darwinism." They will be very use- 

 ful to me in preparing another edition. Living in the country 

 with but few books, I have often been unable to obtain the 

 latest information, but for the purpose of the argument 

 the facts of a few years back are often as good as those of 

 to-day — which in their turn will be modified a few years 

 hence. . . . You appear to have so much knowledge of 

 details in so many branches of natural history, and also 

 to have thought so much on many of the more recondite 

 problems, that I shall be much pleased to receive any 

 further remarks or corrections on any other portions of 

 my book.' This letter, written to a very young and quite 

 unknown man in the wilds of Colorado, who had merely 

 communicated a list of more or less trifling criticisms, can 

 only be explained as an instance of Dr. Wallace's eager- 

 ness to help and encourage beginners. It did not occur to 

 him to question the propriety of the criticisms, he did not 

 write as a superior to an inferior ; he only saw what seemed 

 to him a spark of biological enthusiasm, which should by 

 all means be kindled into flame. Many years later, when 

 1 was at his house, he produced with the greatest delight 

 some letters from a young man who had gone to South 



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