THE MAN 31 



In the limits of a sketch which permits only of an 

 attempt to portray the salient features of Huxley's 

 character, and to indicate his attitude towards the 

 burning questions of his time, confusion rather than 

 clearness would result from import of details of the 

 less eventful years. Hence the sometimes abrupt 

 passage from one period to another, leaving the blanks 

 to be filled up by reference to the brief chronological 

 table which precedes this outline. 



In 1870, perhaps the busiest year of Huxley's busy 

 life, he was urged to offer himself as a candidate for 

 the newly-formed School Board for London. His 

 many commitments made him hesitate to stand, but 

 he consented, because the position gave him a coveted 

 chance of helping to put into practice the theories of 

 education which he had long advocated. The op- 

 portunity was given him ; he came out second on the 

 poll. His views upon the subject are scattered 

 through many lectures and essays, but their consist- 

 ency permits brief presentment. He contended that 

 education should be cc free and equal " ; the business 

 of the school boards being the provision of " a ladder 

 reaching from the gutter to the university, along 

 which every child in the three kingdoms should have 

 the chance of climbing as far as he was fit to go." L 

 That the race is to the swift and the battle to the 



1 Coll. Essays, iii. p. 424. 



