Walter R Watson an Paul Rottenburg, Glasgow, 29. Dezember 1902
JOSEPH COWAN & SONS,
ARCHITECTS.
Glasgow 27th December 1902
Dear Mr. Rottenburg,
I beg to acknowledge with many thanks receipt of Prof. Haeckel’s „History of Creation“ in two volumes which you so kindly caused to be sent to me on Saturday.
An year or two ago I had read Darwin’s „Origin of Species“ and within the last twelve months „The Descent of Man“ and some of Huxley’s essays. ‒ „Methods an Results“ and so on, but is it only a post-night since I discovered that there was a wonderfully cheap edition in English of the „Riddle of the Universe“. The consummate skill and clearness with which the great biologist || marshals his facts for the benefit of non-scientific men proved to me of the most absorbing interest. The problem of bringing the complicated phenomena of organic nature under the dominion of natural laws may not seem a very profitable study for an architect yet Huxley calls it „the question of all questions for mankind“, and by your kindness I am nowa provided with the key to the non-miraculous history of development as presented to his fellow men by one of the most learned and honoured scientists of modern times. In cutting the pages I had delightful glimpse of the threat in this for me in the immediate future ‒ there is something fascinating to my mind in making these bold plunges into the mysteries of time and space.
With very many thanks
Believe me, Dear Mr. Rottenburg
Your gratefully and sincerely
Walter R. Watson.
a eingef.: now