i8g5 A REJECTED MANUSCRIPT 417 



In my judgment, a domestic servant, who is perhaps giving 

 half her wages to support her old parents, is more worthy of 

 help than half a dozen Magdalens. 



Under these circumstances, you will understand that such, 

 funds as are at my disposal are already fully engaged. 



The following is to a gentleman — an American, I think 

 • — who sent him a long manuscript, an extraordinary farrago 

 of nonsense, to read and criticise, and help to publish. But 

 as he seemed to have acted in sheer simplicity, he got an 

 answer : — 



Hodeslea, Jan. 31, 1895. 



Dear Sir — I should have been glad if you had taken the 

 ordinary, and, I think convenient couise of writing for my per- 

 mission before you sent the essay which has reached me, and 

 which I return by this post. I should then have had the oppor- 

 tunity of telling you that I do not undertake to read, or take 

 any charge of such matters, and we should both have been 

 spared some trouble. 



I the more regret this, since being unwilling to return your 

 work without examination, I have looked at it, and feel bound 

 to give you the following piece of advice, which I fear may be 

 distasteful, as good counsel generally is. 



Lock up your essay. For two years — if possible, three — 

 read no popular expositions of science, but devote yourself to a 

 course of sound practical instruction in elementary physics, 

 chemistry, and biology. 



Then re-read your essay ; do with it as you think best ; and, 

 if possible, regard a little more kindly than you are likely to do 

 at present, yours faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



The following passage from a letter to Sir J. D. Hooker 

 refers to a striking discovery made by Dubois : — 



Hodeslea, Eastbourne, Feb. 14, 1895. 

 The Dutchmen seem to have turned up something like the 

 " missing link " in Java, according to a paper I have just re- 

 ceived from Marsh. I expect he was a Socratic party, with his 

 hair rather low down on his forehead and warty cheeks. 



Pithecanthropus erectus Dubois (fossil) 



rather Aino-ish about the body, small in the calf, and cheese- 

 cutting in the shins. Le voici ! 

 63 



