New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-11
AT THE HOUSE OF DARWIN.
WHAT 4 VISITOR FOUND IN PLACES THAT
ONCE KNEW TIE GREAT NATURALI>T.

London, December l., 1880.
Happening to he not far from Darwin's home
at Down, in Kent, England, | seized the Oppor-
tunity TO call there and t. beg permission TO see
the study Of the immortal Investigator. | made
Inquiries NJ the door, and was informed that per
mission would have TO be obtained from Mrs.
Darwin, who was now out driving Nothing
dauntcd, ] repeated my call the next day, this
time with success. 4 two miles walk in the graz
English mist which developed into drilling
rain: over the fence, now up the hilslOpc,
now along the roadside, here clumps Of hardy oak
or beech. there the village with its tavern. its
horse pond. It's cackline and quacking poultry Its
romping rustic children. sturdy, flaXen-haiIcd,
ruddy-cheeked-a pleasant walk of two hours
brought us--my companions and mc-to the door
sill across which passed and repasScd, year in and
year out, one of EnSland's greatest sons. The
dwelling. an old-fashioned. substantial structure.
is reached by narrow road or lane branching of
from the village and overhung with trees, and is
situated in quiet, secluded spot. well suited to
such tastes as Darwins were. Writing my re-
quest in pencil on visiting-card, ! handed this
to the attendant. She returned promptly, and
conducted us to a spacious apartment at the rear
of the house.
The apartment into which we were ushered
was the dining-rOom. at the other end of which
large window looked out on green lawn
Presently the door opened and lady entered
" Mrs. l. the servant said, and then with
drew. Mrs l. is daughter of Mrs Darwin.
and bears striking personal resemblance 10 her
distinguished father She tool; H. 10 a corner
OF the room and showed us a fine marble bust
Of her father On the wall al our right. above
and near the bust, hung an oil-painting. nearly
hfe-Sze; tne portrait of portiy ENGLISH gentle
man. On the middle of the wall, NJ our left. hung
another Oll-painting. of similar dimensions and
likewise the portrait Of gentleman. The one
OF these. As was explained To US represented
the famous scientists father. Dr. Robert Warng
Darwin; the other his grandfather. DR.. Erasmus
Darwin, poet. physician and naturali,'
We were next led to Mr Darwns study This
room is III the front Of the house and AZ the left
Of the main entrance. Here an unpleasant sur-
prise awaited Is. one should have thought that
from the great mans study-thc workshop where
Snch mighty thoughts were forged. the shrine
where tie dcvoIces Of science in ages 10 come
will seek inspiration-onc should have thought
that from this memorable spot not even n pen.
rot even scrap Of paper used by Darwin. would
have been removed. But what dcsecraiion,
All in disorder Tho bookS-the dcsk-gonc.
Inc explanation was, Mrs. l. was good enough
10 tell NJ. that much Of the furniture Of thc
room had been removed by her brothers for their
own use. Well, people have right - do wha'
they please with their own. Yet 10 outsider
II does seem pity that the things should ever
have been disturbed. Some Interesting mcncnt0s
of Darwin, nevertheless. SIN there: TN, re-
NoNlng btoo! WhcIC0n his microscope rested. look
ing ike an old-faShiOnCd piano->tool. with Il
black haircioth cover, and also MS last expert
mcnt-a small cylindrical vessel divided into
two compartments each Of which contains kind
of sand different from that in the other. his aim
being TO observe the effect Of the difference of
sand on the development Of a certain insect.
] picked up a book lying on one of the book
shelves; il was a French translation Of one OF
Mr.. Darwin's works
After having looked into another room adj
joining The study. where Mr. Darwin sometimes
worked, VIC were directed 10 the well known hot
house "a the end Of the garden in which 50 many
Of Darwin $ important experiment, and observe
tons made. Having reached the end of
the garden proper without seeing the conservatory.
we turned 10 the right and found another piece
Of garden, or rather a long and narrow recess.
walled in all sides hut the one. Along the
wall on the right stretched the dollhouse w.
entered and walked through IT, II was entirely
empty; nothing but the wall, tie pavement. and
the glass Yet j. needed 10 great stretch Of fancy
10 STE the venerable and solitary investigator
moving about there observing and refcctiug.
We fingered a while, and then Tctraced our steps
AS we passed out 10 the road again. the rain
ceased. the gray mist vanished. and the lovely
landscape was once more bathcd in genial light.