father and son-第18章
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aradox that truth has two forms； each of them indisputable； yet each antagonistic to the other。 It was this discovery； that there were two theories of physical life； each of which was true； but the truth of each incompatible with the truth of the other； which shook the spirit of my Father with perturbation。 It was not； really； a paradox； it was a fallacy； if he could only have known it； but he allowed the turbid volume of superstition to drown the delicate stream of reason。 He took one step in the service of truth； and then he drew back in an agony； and accepted the servitude of error。
This was the great moment in the history of thought when the theory of the mutability of species was preparing to throw a flood of light upon all departments of human speculation and action。 It was becoming necessary to stand emphatically in one army or the other。 Lyell was surrounding himself with disciples； who were making strides in the direction of discovery。 Darwin had long been collecting facts with regard to the variation of animals and plants。 Hooker and Wallace； Asa Gray and even Agassiz； each in his own sphere； were coming closer and closer to a perception of that secret which was first to reveal itself clearly to the patient and humble genius of Darwin。 In the year before； in 1856； Darwin； under pressure from Lyell； had begun that modest statement of the new revelation； that 'abstract of an essay'； which developed so mightily into 'The Origin of Species'。 Wollaston's 'Variation of Species' had just appeared； and had been a nine days' wonder in the wilderness。
On the other side； the reactionaries； although never dreaming of the fate which hung over them； had not been idle。 In 1857 the astounding question had for the first time been propounded with contumely； 'What； then； did we come from an orang…outang？' The famous 'Vestiges of Creation' had been supplying a sugar…and… water panacea for those who could not escape from the trend of evidence； and who yet clung to revelation。 Owen was encouraging reaction by resisting； with all the strength of his prestige； the theory of the mutability of species。
In this period of intellectual ferment； as when a great political revolution is being planned； many possible adherents were confidentially tested with hints and encouraged to reveal their bias in a whisper。 It was the notion of Lyell； himself a great mover of men； that； before the doctrine of natural selection was given to a world which would be sure to lift up at it a howl of execration； a certain bodyguard of sound and experienced naturalists； expert in the description of species； should be privately made aware of its tenor。 Among those who were thus initiated； or approached with a view towards possible illumination； was my Father。 He was spoken to by Hooker； and later on by Darwin； after meetings of the Royal Society in the summer of 1857。
My Father's attitude towards the theory of natural selection was critical in his career； and oddly enough； it exercised an immense influence on my own experience as a child。 Let it be admitted at once； mournful as the admission is； that every instinct in his intelligence went out at first to greet the new light。 It had hardly done so； when a recollection of the opening chapter of ' Genesis' checked it at the outset。 He consulted with Carpenter； a great investigator； but one who was fully as incapable as himself of remodelling his ideas with regard to the old； accepted hypotheses。 They both determined； on various grounds； to have nothing to do with the terrible theory； but to hold steadily to the law of the fixity of species。 It was exactly at this juncture that we left London； and the slight and occasional but always extremely salutary personal intercourse with men of scientific leading which my Father had enjoyed at the British Museum and at the Royal Society came to an end。 His next act was to burn his ships down to the last beam and log out of which a raft could have been made。 By a strange act of wilfulness； he closed the doors upon himself forever。
My Father had never admired Sir Charles Lyell。 I think that the famous 'Lord Chancellor manner' of the geologist intimidated him； and we undervalue the intelligence of those whose conversation puts us at a disadvantage。 For Darwin and Hooker； on the other hand； he had a profound esteem； and I know not whether this had anything to do with the fact that he chose； for his impetuous experiment in reaction； the field of geology； rather than that of zoology or botany。 Lyell had been threatening to publish a book on the geological history of Man； which was to be a bombshell flung into the camp of the catastrophists。 My Father； after long reflection； prepared a theory of his own； which； as he fondly hoped； would take the wind out of Lyell's sails； and justify geology to godly readers of 'Genesis'。 It was； very briefly； that there had been no gradual modification of the surface of the earth； or slow development of organic forms； but that when the catastrophic act of creation took place； the world presented； instantly； the structural appearance of a planet on which life had long existed。
The theory； coarsely enough； and to my Father's great indignation； was defined by a hasty press as being thisthat God hid the fossils in the rocks in order to tempt geologists into infidelity。 In truth； it was the logical and inevitable conclusion of accepting； literally； the doctrine of a sudden act of creation； it emphasized the fact that any breach in the circular course of nature could be conceived only on the supposition that the object created bore false witness to past processes； which had never taken place。 For instance； Adam would certainly possess hair and teeth and bones in a condition which it must have taken many years to accomplish； yet he was created full…grown yesterday。 He would certainlythough Sir Thomas Browne denied itdisplay an 'omphalos'； yet no umbilical cord had ever attached him to a mother。
Never was a book cast upon the waters with greater anticipations of success than was this curious； this obstinate； this fanatical volume。 My Father lived in a fever of suspense； waiting for the tremendous issue。 This 'Omphalos' of his； he thought； was to bring all the turmoil of scientific speculation to a close； fling geology into the arms of Scripture； and make the lion eat grass with the lamb。 It was not surprising； he admitted； that there had been experienced an ever…increasing discord between the facts which geology brings to light and the direct statements of the early chapters of 'Genesis'。 Nobody was to blame for that。 My Father； and my Father alone； possessed the secret of the enigma； he alone held the key which could smoothly open the lock of geological mystery。 He offered it； with a glowing gesture； to atheists and Christians alike。 This was to be the universal panacea； this the system of intellectual therapeutics which could not but heal all the maladies of the age。 But； alas！ atheists and Christians alike looked at it； and laughed； and threw it away。
In the course of that dismal winter； as the post began to bring in private letters； few and chilly； and public reviews； many and scornful； my Father looked in vain for the approval of the churches； and in vain for the acquiescence of the scientific societies； and in vain for the gratitude of those 'thousands of thinking persons'； which he had rashly assured himself of receiving。 As his reconciliation of Scripture statements and geological deductions was welcomed nowhere； as Darwin continued silent； and the youthful Huxley was scornful； and even Charles Kingsley； from whom my Father had expected the most instant appreciation； wrote that he could not 'give up the painful and slow conclusion of five and twenty years' study of geology； and believe that God has written on the rocks one enormous and superfluous lie'；as all this happened or failed to happen； a gloom； cold and dismal； descended upon our morning teacups。 It was what the poets mean by an 'inspissated' gloom； it thickened day by day； as hope and self…confidence evaporated in thin clouds of disappointment。 My Father was not prepared for such a fate。 He had been the spoiled darling of the public； the constant favourite of the press； and now； l
