Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-18
THE GREAT HUXLEY.
THE OLD SCIENTIST AMONG tns
BOOKS AND FLOWERS.
A Lie Of Thought and Study Relaxation
Found in Raising Vegetables and War;
Ing on Insects.
ny Kate Terry LOWS.
tFor The SUNDAY eazotte.l

has long advocated the health-giying
properties OF the Sussex coast, but it
is only within the last few years that
he has given up his old headquarters
in Marlborough palace, st. Johns wood,
and taken possession OF the house spe-
cially built for him at Eastbourne.
II was designed for him by the hus-
band Of his eldest daughter, and rejoices
in the quaint title Of "Hodeslea,' the
early English form of the name Huxley.
| The house is not in the town itself
| but stands in its own garden on the ris-
| ing ground towards Beachy Head;
whore the green slopes of the Sussex
| downs stretch out as q fair background
to its red brick walls and tiled roof.
We go first into the garden, for 1t is
| in the garden that Professor Huxley is
generally TO be found on o fine summer
day. He has taken upcountry pursuits
with great energy, aud devotes all his
spare moments TO the care OF his flowers
and of the homegrown vegetables, OF
which he is justly proud; the labor of
watering his trees and protecting them
from the ravages of insects and blightis,
he will tell you, as enjoyable form OF
relaxation as the long walks he delights
in taking across the downs in more in
clement weather.
Above the level of the garden is a
grass terrace and, above this again,
wide gravel path, bordered on either
side by flower beds, runs beneath the
windows Of "Hodeslea' and like them,
has fine outlook over the sea. 1t Is
fair prospect, this wide expanse of rest
less water cleaning now beneath the
brilliant blue of cloudless slxy, but
often surging in long white-crested
breakers, with roar that echoes and re-
echoes increasingly, although the slope
of the hill with its vegetation hides
from sight the cliffs and the i'm
mediate line of shore that bears the
brunt Of the endless conflict with the
waves. Every passing effect of light
and shadow brings its own beauty into
the scene; every moment Of the day has
its individual charm, and this is tho
spot Prof. Huxley has chosen for his
daily constitutional and has nicknamed
''the quarterback, striding up and
pown ii every morning with the utmost
regularity regardless of wind or rain.
Within doors are comfortable homely
rooms where the portraits Of many
members of the Huxley family adorn
the walls-some few are painted by
themselves, but most of them are the
work OF another son-in-law, the Hon.
John Collier, and many are familiar to
the public who have seen them in she
academy and other galleries. These
sons and daughters are all married
now, but it very rarely happens that
one or another Of them is not on visit
to "Hodeslea, while the grandchildren
are ever in request and have their own
particular quarters and cosey nursery.
And what of the most interesting
l H., N1,s. A.. ,N,. 81
great man himself?
First of all, it is full of sunlight,
streaming in through the wide window
that looks out over the garden, and
through Il second smaller window, built
in an apse, and whose colored panes cast
all manner quaint.shadows upon the
rows and rows of books that seem to fill
every nook and corner OF the room.
Long shelves line all the walls, litor-
ally from floor to ceiling; books, books,
books of all sorts and In every variety
of binding; they are piled on the bread
surface Of the dark oak table, on the
chairs. and even the floor has its share
Of bulky volumes and pamphlets in
Vulnerable. Always an Unsuitable
reader, Professor Huxley has collected
books all his life, indeed, no tells you
these are not nearly all that he pos
sesses; they have overlooked into
several rooms up stairs, and even then
serious thoughts were entertained of
building out library especially to
hold the remainder, when Mr.. Collier
offered to give them house room and
carried of u van-load back TO town.
Another OF Professor Huxley's hob
bies is his love for the feline race; the
present favorite. a black cat, Richard
by name) lies coiled up in low chair
by the study window, but you learn
that he is not always SO modest and in
tinitely prefers the professors own
chair before the writing table, where
he has been known to repose in blissful
content while the rightful possessor
either stood or sat to his work in an up
right chair at the other side OF the
table; such an idea as turning puss out
oil his comfortable quarters, never en-
tering his mind.
Photographs Of his children, grand
children and friends adorn the mantel-
piece along with a few curios and his
iayorlte pipe. The professor abjured
tobacco altogether until he reached the
ege of 40, when he took to ii suddenly
and smoked hard for 20 years, then he
gave IL up altogether again for three
years and has now again taken TO It,
| 10 ~ u man faIhef ABOVE Lne middle
height sparely built and upright; per-
haps his most striking features are the
very bright black eyes that meet, and
seem to look through those of anyone
whom he is speaking; they are set
vide apart and deep beneath the grey
eyebrows; the forehead is square, tho
iron-grey hair brushed straight back
from the temples.
White whiskers frame in the lower
part OF the face and aoeentuate the
squareness OF the chin firmly moulded
into an expression that would be stern,
and almost defiant but for the extreme
mobility OF the lips. The nostrils are
wide and sensitive, the whole face
somewhat rugged, but constantly light
ed up by the smiling lips or by a very
eharaeteristlc twinkle of fun Ia the
dark eyes.
NO one more thoroughly appreciates
Joke nor sees the point Of a good story
more quickly than does the professor,
ana he is himself a delightful 'racon-
teur He tells one charming story
apropos Of autograph hunters. Walk
ing one day in the lake district he
was accosted by rural postinan, who
| eagerly peuup tod him IN rive him the