HUXLEY AND THE WATER- BABY.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 16, 19 January 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

HUXLEY AND THE WATER- BABY.

All who have seen Sambourne's inimitable illustrations to Kiugfiiay's " Water- | babies/ will remember the delightful sketch of' two professors (portraits of Owen »nd Huxley) examining a waterbaby in a bottle. In the second volume of Lconiwd Huxley's "Life and Letters" of his father, two letters appear in connectioa with this subject. The first is a letter of enquiry from Professor Huxley's little grandson regarding the engraving, which had beeD shown to him : — " Dear Grandpater, — Have you seen a water baby? Did you put it in a bottle? Did ib wonder if it could get out? Can I -see it some day?— Your loving Julian." j Tho professor's reply, given in facsimile, is characteristic: — "HodeJca, Eastbourne, 24th March, 1892.— My Dear Julian,— l never could make sure about that Water Baby. I have seen Babies in water, and Babie3' in Bottles ; but the Baby in the bottlo was not in water. My friend who wrote the story of the Water Baby was a very kind man and very clever. Perbnm he thought I could sec as much in tho voter as ho did. There are some who sco very little in the same things. When you grow up I dare say you will bo ono of the great-deal Beers, and sco fliin^a more wonderful than Water Biibics where other folks can ,«ce nothing. Give my best love to Daddy and Mammy and Trevcncn. Grandma is a littlo better, but not up yet, — Ever Your loving Grandpater."