Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... REMINISCENCES OF MY FATHERS EVERYDAY LIFE. It is my wish in the present chapter to give some idea of my father's everyday life. It has seemed to mo that I might carry out this object in the form of a rough sketch of a day's life at Down, interspersed with such recollections as are called up by tho record. Many of these recollections, which have a meaning for those who knew my father, will seem colourless or trifling to strangers. Nevertheless, I give them in the hope that they may help to preserve that impression of his personality which remains on the minds of those who knew and loved him--an impression at once so vivid and so untranslatable into words. From the Century Magixtine, January 1883. Of his personal appearance (in these days of multiplied photographs) it is hardly necessary to say much. He was about sis feet in height, but scarcely looked so tall, as he stooped a good deal; in later days ho yielded to the stoop; but I can remember seeing him long ago swinging back his arms to open out his chest, and holding himself upright with a jerk. He gave one the idea that he had been active rather than strong; his shoulders were not broad for his height, though certainly not narrow. As a young man he must have had much endurance, for on one of the shore excursions from the Beagle, when all were suffering from want of water, he was one of the two who were better able than the rest to struggle on in search of it. As a boy he was active, and could jump a bar placed at the height of the "Adam's apple" in his neck. He walked with a swinging action, using a stick heavily shod with iron, which he struck loudly against the ground, producing as he went round the "Sand-walk" at Down, a rhythmical click which is with all of us a very..."
