Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-20

:
the flies and gnats, who were his
only hearers, for their fondness foi
sunshine. Before the end Of the
first year he had formulated a creed
which Professor Huxley found tC
bear a very close resemblance tC
that of John Calvin. 1t thus be.
came clear that a diet OF Swiss
cheese, combined with brandy and
water and modified by a low tenn,
perature, are the immediate cause
Of Calvinism.
Meanwhile, another boy had been
fed upen oatmeal and whisky, made
to live in damp room, and fire.
quently sprinkled with fine spray
of water closely resembling a
Scotch mist. This boy soon ac-
quired peculiar broad accent, and
showed disposition to preach SER
mons several hours in length. He
displayed a violent aversion to pic
lures of all sorts, to scarlet, and to
the sound Of an organ. A very
short time was all that was needed
to develop him into an unmistaka.
bic Scotch Presbyterian. The ex-
pertinent was satisfactory in dem
onstrating the truth of the mate
riahstic theory of the origin of re-
ligions, but the unsatisfactory fea-
ture was the uncOnquerable tenden-
oy of the boyto throw things at the
professor whenever the latter incl
dentally mentioned that there was
no God.
The third boy was kept in a hot
room, fed upon macaronl and light
wines, and compelled to constantly
grind small hand-organ. This
experiment was also a complete sue
cess. The boy became an unmis-
taxable Roman Catholic, and dis
played a degree Of devoutness,
joined to fondness for sticking his
pen-knife into the professors legs,
which filled the latter with scien-
ti6c delight. There were five chill
dren in all, but the experiments
made upon the younger two were
not altogether satisfactory. One oi
them was fed upon pork and hom.
my, varied with occasional chick.
ems, and allowed to drink nothing
but water. 1t was supposed thai
under this course Of Treatment
strong Baptist symptoms would
have been developed; but, on tht
contrary, the boy became a sort O.
cross between a Methodist and
Presbyterian. 1t is Prof. Huxley
opinion that an error was made il
his diet, although he claims to have
fed him in accordance with the Gus.
tom prevailing in the southern par
OF the United States. At all events
the experiment was little better thar
failere, and the formula for the
production Of Baptists is not found
in the Professors contemplated
book.
As for the fifth boy, he wa;
treated with special care with the
view of making him an earnest anC
able scientific person. His die
consisted of roast beef and ale, anC
his playthiugS were states and pen.
ellis, mathematical instruments
specimens of minerals and fossils,
and anatomical drawings. Three
times every day he was taken to the
open window, and held with his
mouth open, exposed to the east
wind. Every afternoon two we'll
behaved little scientific boys were
brought to play with him, and the
three were accustomed to play pitch
and toss with a pocket bible for
several hours. 1t was confidently
believed that under this treatment
he would become an eminent scien-
ti6c person, but Professor Huxley
was bitterly disappointed. The boy
became most impertinent and
malicious little wretch. His self
conceit grew intolerable. 1t was
his delight to pick in pieces and to
spoil every beautiful object that
came within his reach, and to throw
stones and to hoot at every respect
able person who passed near his
window. 1t is true that he did not
believe in the existence of a God,
but this was a very slight cousola-
ton to Professor Huxley when the
latter was called a bigoted idiot by
this wretched boy, or told by him
that he was a stupid automaton,
and he would like to disarrange his
internal mechanism with a knife.
The boy did not, as need hardly be
remarked, resemble a modern scien-
titic person in the remotest degree,
and Professor Huxley confessed
himself unable to account for the
failure Of this experiment.
Nevertheless, in his contempla.
ted volume the learned Professor
has been able to give several for
mul@ for the production of Swiss
Calyanists, Scotch Presbyterians
and italian Roman Catholics, and
by these established beyond
controversy his assertion that re-
! Iligion is the result of diet. At the
same time it should be remarked
that the nurse has confessed that
she secretly suppGd the boys with