In one
of the last communications I had with him, I asked his views as
to the desirability of discontinuing the workmen's lectures at
Jermyn Street, since the development of workmen's colleges and
institutes was regarded by some as rendering their continuance
unnecessary. He replied, almost with indignation, 'With our
central situation and resources we ought to be in a position to
give the workmen that which they cannot get elsewhere,' adding
that he would deeply deplore any such discontinuance."
Huxley had no natural facility for speech. He tells us that at first
he disliked it, and that he had a firm conviction that he would break
down every time he opened his mouth. The only two possible faults of a
public speaker which he believed himself to be without, were "talking
at random and indulging in rhetoric." With practice, he lost this
earlier hesitancy, and before long became known as one of the finest
speakers of his time. Certain natural gifts aided him; his well-set
figure and strong features, of which the piercing eyes and firm,
trap-like mouth were the most striking, riveted attention, while his
voice had a wide range and was beautifully modulated. But it was above
all things the matter and not the manner of his speech that commanded
success.
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