THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
*14 
from his own honour by bestowing honour upon others, first 
named me Euphrastus, because he said, the gods had endowed 
me with more than an average fluency. Not content, however, 
with calling me the Fine Speaker, he presently changed the name 
to Theophrastus or the Divine Orator—a title which I feel myself 
altogether unworthy to bear. If it were possible I would relate 
to you some facts of interest relating to my college course, and 
the society in which I had the honour to move, but I must not 
unduly lengthen my narration lest my worthy quartette of fellow 
visitors should have no time for their life story.” 
“Is it true,” I enquired, “that on one occasion, a woman 
undertook to write you down ? “ It is true. Unfortunately the 
male sex is not the only one which sometimes does rash things. 
Leontium, the Athenian to whom you refer, was a friend of 
Epicurus. With the latter, I had little in common, and as our 
sympathies and teachings often took opposite courses, he 
found a doughty champion in this woman.” 
“We have fallen on happier times,” remarked Mr. Darwin. 
“ You will perhaps be interested to know that since the study of 
science on evolutionary lines came into vogue we have found 
many adherents and champions among the gentler sex, some of 
whom now rank as authors of considerable merit, while several 
are skilled and successful demonstrators and lecturers in our 
colleges and laboratories. ” 
“ I have read your memoirs by Diogenes Laertius, ” remarked 
Paley, “ and observe that you wrote many other works besides 
those which my friend here has on his shelves. ” 
“ It is true,” again replied the philosopher. This volume 
(taking the folio which I offered him) contains only a trifling 
portion of my writing. I regret to say that the bulk of the two 
hundred essays which I penned have been lost. I am glad, 
however, that my Ethic Portraits and my History of Botany have 
survived. Much time and labour did I expend on these, and if 
you have read the JXdtural Histoiy of Pliny you will be well aware 
that he, like many other writers of that age, often found occasion 
to quote my opinions.” 
“ We cannot thank you too warmly, Sir,” remarked Linnaeus, 
“ for the great service you have rendered to after ages by preserv¬ 
ing to us the works of your master Aristotle. ” 
“ Indeed, ” replied Theophrastus, “ it was the very least I 
could do. When my master left Athens, after the sentence of 
death had been passed upon the noble Socrates, it fell to my lot 
to succeed him as the principal of the school of philosophy, and 
when the master lay a-dying he entrusted his writings to my 
special care. His mind was of the most versatile description, and 
from him I imbibed that art of research which enabled me to 
treat of such widely varied themes, and secure the friendship of 
Ptolemy Lagos, King of Egypt, Cassander, and other royal 
