When I had read and returned the book, and he was eager to hear my
opinion, I said it had not hurt me in the least, since Darwin had to
my mind only succeeded in disproving his own theory with his argument
from artificial selection. He himself confessed that no new species
had ever been produced in that way.
That, he said in reply, was the easy criticism that any one who came
to the reading in a hostile spirit would make. They would fasten on
that apparently weak point and not pay much attention to the fact that
it is fairly met and answered in the book. When he first read the book
it convinced him; but he had come to it with an open mind and I with a
prejudiced mind on account of my religious ideas. He advised me to
read it again, to read and consider it carefully with the sole purpose
of getting at the truth. "Take it," he said, "and read it again in the
right way for you to read it - as a naturalist."
He had been surprised that I, an ignorant boy or youth on the pampas,
had ventured to criticise such a work. I, on my side, had been equally
surprised at his quiet way of reasoning with me, with none of the old
scornful spirit flaming out.
