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path has shown itself a fair one； neither more difficult nor less
so than most paths in life in which a man of energy may hope to do
much if he believes in himself； and is at peace within。〃 Thus
relieved in mind； he makes his decision in spite of adverse fate。
〃My course of life is taken； I will not leave LondonI WILL make
myself a name and a position as well as an income by some kind of
pursuit connected with science which is the thing for which Nature
has fitted me if she has ever fitted any one for anything。〃
But suddenly the long wait； the faith in self； were justified； and
the turning point came。 〃There is always a Cape Horn in one's life
that one either weathers or wrecks one's self on；〃 he writes to his
sister。 〃Thank God； I think I may say I have weathered minenot
without a good deal of damage to spars and rigging though； for it
blew deuced hard on the other side。〃 In 1854 a permanent
lectureship was offered him at the Government School of Mines；
also； a lectureship at St。 Thomas' Hospital； and he was asked to
give various other lecture courses。 He thus found himself able to
establish the home for which he had waited eight years。 In July；
1855； he was married to Miss Heathorn。
The succeeding years from 1855 to 1860 were filled with various
kinds of work connected with science： original investigation；
printing of monographs； and establishing of natural history
museums。 His advice concerning local museums is interesting and
characteristically expressed。 〃It ＇the local museum if properly
arranged＇ will tell both natives and strangers exactly what they
want to know； and possess great scientific interest and importance。
Whereas the ordinary lumber…room of clubs from New Zealand； Hindu
idols； sharks' teeth； mangy monkeys； scorpions； and conch shells
who shall describe the weary inutility of it？ It is really worse
than nothing； because it leads the unwary to look for objects of
science elsewhere than under their noses。 What they want to know
is that their 'America is here；' as Wilhelm Meister has it。〃
During this period； also； he began his lectures to workingmen；
calling them Peoples' Lectures。 〃POPULAR lectures；〃 he said； 〃I
hold to be an abomination unto the Lord。〃 Working…men attended
these lectures in great numbers； and to them Huxley seemed to be
always able to speak at his best。 His purpose in giving these
lectures should be expressed in his own words： 〃I want the working
class to understand that Science and her ways are great facts for
themthat physical virtue is the base of all other； and that they
are to be clean and temperate and all the restnot because fellows
in black and white ties tell them so； but because there are plain
and patent laws which they must obey 'under penalties。'〃
Toward the close of 1859； Darwin's 〃Origin of Species〃 was
published。 It raised a great outcry in England； and Huxley
immediately came forward as chief defender of the faith therein set
forth。 He took part in debates on this subject； the most famous of
which was the one between himself and Bishop Wilberforce at Oxford。
The Bishop concluded his speech by turning to Huxley and asking；
〃Was it through his grandfather or grandmother that he claimed
descent from a monkey？〃 Huxley； as is reported by an eye…witness；
〃slowly and deliberately arose。 A slight tall figure； stern and
pale； very quiet and grave； he stood before us and spoke those
tremendous words。 。 。 。 He was not ashamed to have a monkey for an
ancestor； but he would be ashamed to be connected with a man who
used great gifts to obscure the truth。〃 Another story indicates
the temper of that time。 Carlyle； whose writing had strongly
influenced Huxley； and whom Huxley had come to know； could not
forgive him for his attitude toward evolution。 One day； years
after the publication of Man's Place in Nature； Huxley； seeing
Carlyle on the other side of the street； a broken； pathetic figure；
walked over and spoke to him。 The old man merely remarked； 〃You're
Huxley； aren't you？ the man that says we are all descended from
monkeys；〃 and passed on。 Huxley； however； saw nothing degrading to
man's dignity in the theory of evolution。 In a wonderfully fine
sentence he gives his own estimate of the theory as it affects
man's future on earth。 〃Thoughtful men once escaped from the
blinding influences of traditional prejudices； will find in the
lowly stock whence man has sprung the best evidence of the
splendour of his capacities； and will discover； in his long
progress through the past； a reasonable ground of faith in his
attainment of a nobler future。〃 As a result of all these
controversies on The Origin of Species and of investigations to
uphold Darwin's theory； Huxley wrote his first book； already
mentioned； Man's Place in Nature。
To read a list of the various kinds of work which Huxley was doing
from 1870 to 1875 is to be convinced of his abundant energy and
many interests。 At about this time Huxley executed the plan which
he had had in mind for a long time； the establishment of
laboratories for the use of students。 His object was to furnish a
more exact preliminary training。 He complains that the student who
enters the medical school is 〃so habituated to learn only from
books； or oral teaching； that the attempt to learn from things and
to get his knowledge at first hand is something new and strange。〃
To make this method of teaching successful in the schools； Huxley
gave practical instruction in laboratory work to school…masters。
〃If I am to be remembered at all；〃 Huxley once wrote； 〃I would
rather it should be as a man who did his best to help the people
than by any other title。〃 Certainly as much of his time as could
be spared from his regular work was given to help others。 His
lectures to workingmen and school…masters have already been
mentioned。 In addition； he lectured to women on physiology and to
children on elementary science。 In order to be of greater service
to the children； Huxley； in spite of delicate health； became a
member of the London School Board。 His immediate object was 〃to
temper book…learning with something of the direct knowledge of
Nature。〃 His other purposes were to secure a better physical
training for children and to give them a clearer understanding of
social and moral law。 He did not believe； on the one hand； in
overcrowding the curriculum； but； on the other hand； he 〃felt that
all education should be thrown open to all that each man might know
to what state in life he was called。〃 Another statement of his
purpose and beliefs is given by Professor Gladstone； who says of
his work on the board： 〃He resented the idea that schools were to
train either congregations for churches or hands for factories。 He
was on the Board as a friend of children。 What he sought to do for
the child was for the child's sake； that it might live a fuller；
truer； worthier life。〃
The immense amount of work which Huxley did