him that one breaking in upon him in the afternoon at South Kensington
would not infrequently be met "with a snatch of some melody of Bach's
fugue." He also liked good pictures, and always had among his friends
well-known artists, as Alma-Tadema, Sir Frederick Leighton, and
Burne-Jones. He read poetry widely, and strongly advocated the teaching
of poetry in English schools. As to poetry, his own preferences are
interesting. Wordsworth he considered too discursive; Shelley was too
diffuse; Keats, he liked for pure beauty, Browning for strength, and
Tennyson for his understanding of modern science; but most frequently of
all he read Milton and Shakespeare.

As to Huxley's appearance, and as to the impression which his
personality made upon others, the description of a friend, Mr. G. W.
Smalley, presents him with striking force. "The square forehead, the
square jaw, the tense lines of the mouth, the deep flashing dark
eyes, the impression of something more than strength he gave you, an
impression of sincerity, of solid force, of immovability, yet with the
gentleness arising from the serene consciousness of his strength--all
this belonged to Huxley and to him alone. The first glance magnetized
his audience. The eyes were those of one accustomed to command, of one
having authority, and not fearing on occasion to use it. The hair swept
carelessly away from the broad forehead and grew rather long behind,
yet the length did not suggest, as it often does, effeminacy. He was
masculine in everything--look, gesture, speech. Sparing of gesture,
sparing of emphasis, careless of mere rhetorical or oratorical art,
he had nevertheless the secret of the highest art of all, whether in
oratory or whatever else--he had simplicity."

Simplicity, directness, sincerity,--all these qualities describe Huxley;
but the one attribute which distinguishes him above all others is love