Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-08
sZoua Lllul@YylIp--a
Haeckel, Famous Fighting Scientist,
=Retires-From Jena University
Militant Of
~ Q Writings Hi. curesH dan Enormous
Influence Throughout the Civilized World

I of development and of the nonistic sys-
TEN of natural philosophy.
The significance and Seducative value
of this museum is rendered evident by
a work which Haeckel published on the
opening of the institutions: Our An
cestors; Critical Studies in Phyletic An
atlropology," in which he gives the gen
ealogy of man from the primeval mo-
nerae to the anthropoid ape. The com
! pletion of the museum, which doubt
less VIII serve as "a model for many,
more throughout the civilized world,
his labors of nearly half a. century as
one of the most ardent and effective
apostles of Dafwinism. ss,.s
INtDEFATIciABLE ToILER.
These two great tasks will form ths
main occupations OF his. leisure, but his
friends know that, notwithstanding his
| 90 years, Prof. Haeckel, the artist and
nature lover. who certainly would have
become q great landscape painter were
it not for his; absorbing devotion to-
science and the study OF life in all its
forms, will continue at intervals to
seek refuge and repose in the fields and
on the seashole. 1t must be rcmem-
bered that this interchangeable toiler,
nine-tenths of whose readers are only
acquainted with one-half of his prod
ucts-his scientific colleagues with his
technical works, and the cultured public
With his philosophical disquisitions and
his brilliant popnlari2ations of science
is an enthusiastic and eloquent apostle
of the Astounding beauty OF nature, the
study oftw1ieh has been 10 him one of
B the greatest Joys of existence from boy
hood onward.
The open air, the fields. the woods,
the seashore and the depths OF the sea
are a living poetry which he prefers
even to that of his adored Goethe. In
decd. he gives precedence to Goethe
/ the scientist of powerful and piercing
constructive Imagination who has had
great influence on his own development,
over the poet and dralnatist. Another
characteristic OF. his Unborn devotion
to fact and truth is the preference
Which he. gives to the newspaper over
bellies ilettres. u preference which, how
ever, only finds practical expression
when, he needs a change from the heavy
daily task of keeping abreast of the
overwhelming flood of technical llitera-
ture.
HIS SOLE HOBBY.
When Worn out by reading and study,
or by the preparation OF one of his
works, which are done in a white heat,
to the neglect of sleep and rest, Prof.
Haeckel has been accustomed to go on
long and lonely excursions in the Can
airy Islands, Madeira, Sicily, India and
Malaysia, Of which he has given en-
trancing descriptions. Such excursions
and long walks IN the fields, botaliizlns>
and "naturalizing. are his sole hobby.
his recreation consisting exclusively in
change OF occupation.
II would be an utter mistake, how
ever to regard this child OF the nine
tenth century" as Prof. Haeckel has
described himself. as a. bloodless Dry
asdust or mere Intellectual machine.
He is, on the contrary, one of the most
human-"all too humanr-of philoso-
pliers. A hard fighter, he bears no i'll
feeling, as was shown by his generous
appreciation of Rudolph virchow, one
of his teachers, who afterward be-
came bitter and powerful opponent
Indeed, a touching characteristic of
this Nestcr of living biologists. who
migii. very Well be spoiled by popu-
lar adulation and worldwide fame, is
the modesty with which he attributes
his success, first TO the training or his |
mother and then to the Inspiration and |
encouragement of his different teach
ers. He hits hard for plain and open
speaking is part of his ideal of truth, |
goodness and beauty" but he bears no |
malice and always has been not only !