Characteristics 



health was failing, and he sat wrapped up before a fire in 

 his study, though it was a warm day. He could not walk 

 round his garden with me as before, but pointed to the 

 little plot of ground in front of the French windows of his 

 study — where he had moved some of his rarer primulas and 

 other plants he was engaged in hybridising — and which he 

 could just manage to visit. His eyesight and hearing 

 seemed as good as ever, and his intellectual power was 

 undimmed. . , . 



Dr. Wallace then, pointing to the beautiful expanse 

 of garden, woodland and sea which was visible from the 

 large study windows, burst forth with vigorous gesticula- 

 tion and flashing eyes : '' Just think I All this wonderful 

 beauty and diversity of nature results from the operation 

 of a few simple laws. In my early unregenerate days I 

 used to think that only material forces and natural laws 

 were operative throughout the world. But these I now 

 see are hopelessly inadequate to explain this mystery and 

 wonder and variety of life. I am, as you know, absolutely 

 convinced that behind and beyond all elementary processes 

 there is a guiding and directive force; a Divine power or 

 hierarchy of powers, ever controlling these processes so 

 that they are tending to more abundant and to higher 

 types of life." 



This led Dr. Wallace to refer to my published lecture 

 on " Creative Thought " and express his hearty concur- 

 rence with the line of argument therein ; in fact he had 

 already sent me his views, which, with his consent, I pub- 

 lished as a postscript to that lecture. 



Then our conversation turned upon recent political 

 events, and it was remarkable how closely he had fol- 

 lowed, and how heartily he approved, the legislation of 

 the Liberal Government of the day. His admiration for Mr. 

 Lloyd George was unfeigned. *' To think that I should 

 have lived to see so earnest and democratic a Chancellor of 

 the Exchequer ! " he exclaimed, acid he confidently awaited 

 still larger measures which would raise the condition of the 

 workers to a higher level ; and nothing was more striking 

 than his intense sympathy with every movement for the 



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