1878 PARENTAL ADVICE 261 



is as sound as your watch, was when you went on your 

 memorable slide, 1 but if you go slithering down ava- 

 lanches of work and worry you can't always expect to 

 pick up " the little creature " none the worse. The 

 apparatus is by one of the best makers, but it has been 

 some years in use, and can't be expected to stand rough 

 work. 



You will be glad to hear that we had cheerier news of 

 Clifford on Saturday. He was distinctly better, and 

 setting out on his Mediterranean voyage. Ever yours 

 very faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



A birthday letter to his son concludes the year : 



4 MARLBOROXJGH PLACE, N.W., 

 Dec. 10, 1878. 



Your mother reminds me that to-morrow is your 

 eighteenth birthday, and though I know that my " happy 

 returns " will reach you a few hours too late, I cannot but 

 send them. 



You are touching manhood now, my dear laddie, and 

 I trust that as a man your mother and I may always 

 find reason to regard you as we have done throughout 

 your boyhood. 



The great thing in the world is not so much to seek 

 happiness as to earn peace and self-respect. I have not 

 troubled you much with paternal didactics but that bit 

 is " ower true " and worth thinking over. 



1 On the Piz Morteratsch ; Hours of Exercise in the Alps, by 

 J. Tyndall, ch. xix. 



