5IO LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xxxii 



panics under way in the matter. In the words of Mr. George 

 Howell, M.P.,* it has an additional interest " as indicating 

 the nature of his own epitaph " ; as a man " whose highest 

 arn,bition ever was to uplift the masses of the people and 

 psomote their welfare intellectually, socially, and indus- 

 trially." 



4 Marlborough Place, N.W., Jan. 2, i88n. 



Dear Mr. Howell — Your letter is a welcome New Year's 

 gift. There are two things I really care about — one is the 

 progress of scientific thought, and the other is the bettering of 

 the condition of the masses of the people by bettering them in 

 the way of lifting themselves out of the misery which has 

 hitherto been the lot of the majority of them. Posthumous fame 

 is not particularly attractive to me, but, if I am to be remem- 

 bered at all, I would rather it should be as " a man who did 

 his best to help the people " than by other title. So you see 

 it is no small pleasure and encouragement to nie to find that 

 I have been, and am, of any use in this direction. 



Ever since my experience on the School Board, I have been 

 convinced that I should lose rather than gain by entering direct- 

 ly into politics. . . . But I suppose I have some ten years of 

 activity left in me, and you may depend upon it I shall lose no 

 chance of striking a blow for the cause I have at heart. I 

 thought the time had come the other day at the Society of Arts, 

 and the event proves I was not mistaken. The animal is mov- 

 ing, and by a judicious exhibition of carrots in front and kicks 

 behind, we shall get him into a fine trot presently. In the mean- 

 time do not let the matter rest. . . . The (City) companies 

 should be constantly reminded that a storm is brewing. There 

 are excellent men among them, who want to do what is right, 

 and need help against the sluggards and reactionaries. It will 

 be best for me to be quiet for a while, but you will understand 

 that I am watching for the turn of events. — I am, yours very 

 faithfully, T. H. Huxley. 



This summer, too, he delivered a course on Biology for 

 Teachers at South Kensington, and published not only his 

 American Addresses, but also the Physiography, founded 

 upon the course delivered seven weeks before. The book, 

 of which 3386 copies were sold in the first six weeks, was 

 fruitful in two ways; it showed that a geographical subject 



* Who sent it to the Times (July 3, 1895) just after Huxley's death. 



