Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-02-06

tue SpolIS OI learning acQulrel, digest
ed and given to the world by Great
Britain during past centuries, we would
be astounded to discover what Il large
proportion of all the arts, sciences and
general scholarship has been freely
contributed by rich and titled men and
their sons who have devoted their tai
ents and wealth to the promotion of
their country's glory In this direction
as others have in naval and military
service, in colonization and statesman
ship.
After declining, on his fathers ad-
vice, Darwin changed his mind and
won Henslow's ardent applause. His
father gave in after arriving at the
conclusion that the voyage need not
necessarily 'be injurious to his char
acter' If on his return he entered the
church. The Beagle sailed on Dec 27.
1881, brig of 235 tons and ten guns
Darwin had long been anxious to see
for himself the indescribable glories of
the South American forests. The col
lections he made were to be his own
property. "The voyage was by far the
most important event of my life AMI
determined my whole career"
He returned in October, 1886. and
married his cousin in 1880. That same
year he pu'''ishcd his "Journal of Re
searches During a Voyage Round the
World" which won him honors The
long spell Of sea life, from which he
suffered. impaired his health so that
in 1919 he withdrew to the retirement
of the country house at Down, not far
from London. in which he remained
recluse until his death
1t was curious that he all but lost
the opportunity of his life because of
the shape Of his nose. Captain (after-
ward AdmiraD Fitzroy, whose baro
metrical improvements have been
adopted, had the choosing of the natu-
ralist and decided that the owner of
50 inartistic a nose must be deficient
in energy and determination. Darwin
only remarks that Fitzroy soon learned
that my nose had spoken falsely"
Henslow considered that Darwin's
letters to him more than justified the
fine things he had said about the
young man to the government, so he
had them privately printed and dis
tributed among scientists. This doubt
less made Darwin famous in quarters
where ordinarily genius has to knock
long before it can enter
1t is not necessary here to give the
titles of the five important books that
followed the Journal" each teeming
with fresh facts and weighty reason
ings that stirred the scientific world.
He covered an immense field and with
an authority that seemed the summary
Of a long life work on each distinct
subject. In 1859 appeared THE Origin
of Species" the book that turned the
world upside down In its way. While
it was accepted and will always rank
as Il work of original investigation al ]
philosophy. Darwin's opening pages
are devoted to honoring the pioneers
in the line of thought which he has
made his own.
He names Button, Lamarck, Saint
Hilaire, w. {. Wells, Rev. W. Herbert
dean of Manchester cathedral; Pro-
ICSSOl "ldHI VI IullIDul Sl, IOlcSSoI
Haldeman and others as having fore
shadowed the theory which he was the
first to den onstrate. This and many
other features which cannot be noticed
now eXemplify the simplicity and lofti-
ness of Darwin's mind, his humility
and modesty.
This fine magnanimity was shown by
equal degree in the remarkable Incl
dent which we now relate. Darwin
opens his introduction to THE Origin
of Species" with the statement here
condensed: ION my return in 1887
from the Beagle voyage 1t occurred to
me that something might perhaps be
made out on this question. the origin
Of species. the mystery of mysteries,
as one of our greatest philosophers had
called it. After five years work ION
his Beagle facts l allowed myself
to speculate on the subject and drew
up some short notes. These l enlarged
in 1911 into a sketch of the conclusions
which then seemed to me probable
My work is now 1850 nearly
finished; but, as it will take me many
more years to complete it and as my
health is far from strong, l have been
urged to publish this abstract, more
especially rs Mr. Wallace has arrived
at almost exactly the same general
tbot houo IN tho ORIGIN