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truer； worthier life。〃
The immense amount of work which Huxley did in these years told
very seriously on his naturally weak constitution。 It became
necessary for him finally for two successive years to stop work
altogether。 In 1872 he went to the Mediterranean and to Egypt。
This was a holiday full of interest for a man like Huxley who
looked upon the history of the world and man's place in the world
with a keen scientific mind。 Added to this scientific bent of
mind； moreover； Huxley had a deep appreciation for the picturesque
in nature and life。 Bits of description indicate his enjoyment in
this vacation。 He writes of his entrance to the Mediterranean； 〃It
was a lovely morning； and nothing could be grander than Ape Hill on
one side and the Rock on the other； looking like great lions or
sphinxes on each side of a gateway。〃 In Cairo； Huxley found much
to interest him in archaeology； geology； and the every…day life of
the streets。 At the end of a month； he writes that he is very well
and very grateful to Old Nile for all that he has done for him； not
the least 〃for a whole universe of new thoughts and pictures of
life。〃 The trip； however； did no lasting good。 In 1873 Huxley was
again very ill； but was under such heavy costs at this time that
another vacation was impossible。 At this moment； a critical one in
his life； some of his close scientific friends placed to his credit
twenty…one hundred pounds to enable him to take the much needed
rest。 Darwin wrote to Huxley concerning the gift： 〃In doing this
we are convinced that we act for the public interest。〃 He assured
Huxley that the friends who gave this felt toward him as a brother。
〃I am sure that you will return this feeling and will therefore be
glad to give us the opportunity of aiding you in some degree； as
this will be a happiness to us to the last day of our lives。〃 The
gift made it possible for Huxley to take another long vacation；
part of which was spent with Sir Joseph Hooker； a noted English
botanist； visiting the volcanoes of Auvergne。 After this trip he
steadily improved in health； with no other serious illness for ten
years。
In 1876 Huxley was invited to visit America and to deliver the
inaugural address at Johns Hopkins University。 In July of this
year accordingly； in company with his wife； he crossed to New York。
Everywhere Huxley was received with enthusiasm； for his name was a
very familiar one。 Two quotations from his address at Johns
Hopkins are especially worthy of attention as a part of his message
to Americans。 〃It has been my fate to see great educational funds
fossilise into mere bricks and mortar in the petrifying springs of
architecture； with nothing left to work them。 A great warrior is
said to have made a desert and called it peace。 Trustees have
sometimes made a palace and called it a university。〃
The second quotation is as follows：
I cannot say that I am in the slightest degree impressed by your
bigness or your material resources； as such。 Size is not grandeur；
territory does not make a nation。 The great issue； about which
hangs true sublimity； and the terror of overhanging fate； is； what
are you going to do with all these things？ 。 。 。
The one condition of success； your sole safeguard； is the moral
worth and intellectual clearness of the individual citizen。
Education cannot give these； but it can cherish them and bring them
to the front in whatever station of society they are to be found；
and the universities ought to be； and may be； the fortresses of the
higher life of the nation。
After the return from America； the same innumerable occupations
were continued。 It would be impossible in short space even to
enumerate all Huxley's various publications of the next ten years。
His work； however； changed gradually from scientific investigation
to administrative work； not the least important of which was the
office of Inspector of Fisheries。 A second important office was
the Presidency of the Royal Society。 Of the work of this society
Sir Joseph Hooker writes： 〃The duties of the office are manifold
and heavy； they include attendance at all the meetings of the
Fellows； and of the councils； committees； and sub…committees of the
Society； and especially the supervision of the printing and
illustrating all papers on biological subjects that are published
in the Society's Transactions and Proceedings； the latter often
involving a protracted correspondence with the authors。 To this
must be added a share in the supervision of the staff officers； of
the library and correspondence； and the details of house…keeping。〃
All the work connected with this and many other offices bespeaks a
life too hard…driven and accounts fully for the continued ill…
health which finally resulted in a complete break…down。
Huxley had always advocated that the age of sixty was the time for
〃official death；〃 and had looked forward to a peaceful 〃Indian
summer。〃 With this object in mind and troubled by increasing ill…
health； he began in 1885 to give up his work。 But to live even in
comparative idleness； after so many years of activity； was
difficult。 〃I am sure；〃 he says； 〃that the habit of incessant work
into which we all drift is as bad in its way as dram…drinking。 In
time you cannot be comfortable without stimulus。〃 But continued
bodily weakness told upon him to the extent that all work became
distasteful。 An utter weariness with frequent spells of the blues
took possession of him； and the story of his life for some years is
the story of the long pursuit of health in England； Switzerland；
and especially in Italy。
Although Huxley was wretchedly ill during this period； he wrote
letters which are good to read for their humor and for their
pictures of foreign cities。 Rome he writes of as an idle；
afternoony sort of place from which it is difficult to depart。 He
worked as eagerly over the historic remains in Rome as he would
over a collection of geological specimens。 〃I begin to understand
Old Rome pretty well and I am quite learned in the Catacombs； which
suit me； as a kind of Christian fossils out of which one can
reconstruct the body of the primitive Church。〃 Florence； for a man
with a conscience and ill…health； had too many picture galleries。
〃They are a sore burden to the conscience if you don't go to see
them； and an awful trial to the back and legs if you do；〃 he
complained。 He found Florence； nevertheless； a lovely place and
full of most interesting things to see and do。 His letters with
reference to himself also are vigorously and entertainingly
expressed。 He writes in a characteristic way of his growing
difficulty with his hearing。 〃It irritates me not to hear； it
irritates me still more to be spoken to as if I were deaf； and the
absurdity of being irritated on the last ground irritates me still
more。〃 And again he writes in a more hopeful strain； 〃With fresh
air and exercise and careful