384 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVI 



lively sepulchre of a place I was ever in in my life. 

 The evolution of modern from ancient art is all there in 

 a nutshell. . . . 



I lead an altogether animal life, except that I have 

 renewed my old love for Italian. At present I am 

 rejoicing in the Autobiography of that delightful sinner, 

 Benvenuto Cellini. I have some notion that there is 

 such a thing as science somewhere. In fact I am fitting 

 myself for Neapolitan nobility. 



To HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER 



HOTEL BRITANNIQUE, NAPLES, 

 Dec. 22, 1884. 



But we have had no letters from home for a week. . . . 

 Moreover, if we don't hear to-day or to-morrow we shall 

 begin to speculate on the probability of an earthquake 

 having swallowed up 4 M. P. " with all the young 

 barbarians at play And I their sire trying to get a 

 Roman holiday" (Byron). For we are going to Rome 

 to-morrow, having had enough of Naples, the general 

 effect of which city is such as would be produced by the 

 sight of a beautiful woman who had not washed or 

 dressed her hair for a month. Climate, on the whole, 

 more variable than that of London. 



We had a lovely drive three days ago to Cumae, a 

 perfect summer's day ; since then sunshine, heat, cold 

 wind, calms all durcheinander, with thunder and lightning 

 last night to complete the variety. 



The thermometer and barometer are not fixed to the 

 walls here, as they would be jerked off by the sudden 

 changes. At first, it is odd to see them dancing about 

 the hall But you soon get used to it, and the porter 

 sees that they don't break themselves. 



With love to Nettie and Harry, and hopes that the 

 pudding will be good Ever your loving father, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



