A. L. F. S.




INTRODUCTION




I -- THE LIFE OF HUXLEY


Of Huxley's life and of the forces which moulded his thought, the
Autobiography gives some account; but many facts which are significant
are slighted, and necessarily the later events of his life are omitted.
To supplement the story as given by him is the purpose of this sketch.
The facts for this account are gathered entirely from the Life and
Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley, by his son. For a real acquaintance
with Huxley, the student should consult this source for himself; he will
count the reading of the Life and Letters among the rare pleasures which
have come to him through books.

Thomas Henry Huxley was born on May 4, 1825. His autobiography gives a
full account of his parents, his early boyhood, and his education. Of
formal education, Huxley had little; but he had the richer schooling
which nature and life give an eager mind. He read widely; he talked
often with older people; he was always investigating the why of things.
He kept a journal in which he noted thoughts gathered from books, and
ideas on the causes of certain phenomena. In this journal he frequently