1864 LETTER TO DARWIN 361 



I thought the last lecture would be nuts for you, but 

 it is really shocking. There is not the smallest question 

 that Owen wrote both the article " Oken " and the Arche- 

 type Book, which appeared in its second edition in French 

 why, I know not. I think that if you will look at 

 what I say again, there will not be much doubt left in 

 your mind as to the identity of the writer of the two. 



The news you give of yourself is most encouraging ; 

 but pray don't think of doing any work again yet 

 Careful as I have been during this last winter not to 

 burn the candle at both ends, I have found myself, since 

 the pressure of my lectures ceased, in considerable need 

 of quiet, and I have been lazy accordingly. 



I don't know that I fear, with you, caring too much 

 for science for there are lots of other things I should 

 like to go into as well, but I do lament more and more 

 as time goes on, the necessity of becoming more and more 

 absorbed in one kind of work, a necessity which is created 

 for any one in my position, partly by one's reputation, 

 and partly by one's children. For directly a man gets 

 the smallest repute in any branch of science, the world 

 immediately credits him with knowing about ten times 

 as much as he really does, and he becomes bound in 

 common honesty to do his best to climb up to his reputed 

 place. And then the babies are a devouring fire, eating 

 up the present and discounting the future ; they are sure 

 to want all the money one can earn, and to be the better 

 for all the credit one can win. 



However, I should fare badly without the young 

 monkeys. Your pet Marian is almost as shy as ever, 

 though she has left off saying " can't," by the way. 



My wife is wonderfully well. As I tell her, Provi- 

 dence has appointed her to take care of me when I am 

 broken down and decrepit. 



I hope you can say as much of Mrs. Darwin. Pray 

 give her my kind regards. And believe me, ever yours 

 faithfully, T. H. HUXLEY. 



