20 CERTAIN EVIDENCE OF 



tical political life. It is well known how prominent 

 a part he plays there in the Prussian Chamber of 

 Eepresentatives, how he raised himself to be the 

 leader of the party of progress, and, to give this politi- 

 cal position a broader basis, took part in the representa- 

 tion of the citizens of the capital; how he has taken 

 a most active interest, as city commissioner, in all the 

 petty anxieties and concerns which the charge of such 

 a city as Berlin entails. I am far from blaming, as 

 many have blamed, the political and civic activity to 

 which Virchow has indefatigably devoted his best 

 powers. If a man feels in himself the inclination and 

 vocation with strength and talent enough, to play a 

 conspicuous political part, by all means let him do so ; 

 but verily I do not envy him ; for the satisfaction 

 which is derived from the most successful and fruitful 

 political activity is not, to my taste, to be compared 

 with that pure and disinterested satisfaction of the 

 mind which results from absorption in serious and 

 difficult scientific labours. In the turmoil of the 

 political and social struggle, even the most splendid 

 civic crown will be dulled by the stifling dust of 

 practical life, which never reaches the ethereal heights 

 of pure science and never rests on the laurels of the 

 thoughtful investigator. However, as I have said, that 

 is a matter of taste. If Virchow really believes that he 

 is doing a greater service to humanity by his practical 



