by H G Wells

Probably heard of Hapley--not W T Hapley, the son, but the celebrated Hapley, the Hapley of Periplaneta Hapliia_, Hapley the entomologist

great feud between Hapley and Professor Pawkins, though certain consequences new , word or two of explanation is necessary, which the idle reader may go over with glancing eye, if his indolence so incline him

amazing how very widely diffused ignorance really important matters Hapley-Pawkins feud Those epoch-making controversies, again, convulsed the Geological Society are, I verily believe, almost entirely unknown outside the fellowship body heard men of fair general education even refer great scenes meetings as vestry-meeting squabbles Yet the great hate English and Scotch geologists has lasted now half century, and has "left deep and abundant marks body science " And this Hapley-Pawkins business, though perhaps more personal affair, stirred passions as profound, profounder Your common man has no conception zeal that animates scientific investigator, the fury of contradiction arouse in him odium theologicum in new form men, for instance, gladly burn Professor Ray Lankester at Smithfield treatment Mollusca Encyclopaedia That fantastic extension Cephalopods the Pteropods . But I wander from Hapley and Pawkins

It began years and , with revision Microlepidoptera (whatever these ) by Pawkins, he extinguished new species created by Hapley Hapley, who was always quarrelsome, replied by stinging impeachment entire classification of Pawkins [A] Pawkins "Rejoinder"[B] suggested that Hapley's microscope was as defective as his power of observation, and called him an "irresponsible meddler"-- Hapley was not professor Hapley retort,[C] spoke of "blundering collectors," and described, inadvertently, Pawkins' revision as "miracle of ineptitude " war knife However, it would scarcely interest the reader to detail how these two great men quarrelled, and how the split widened until Microlepidoptera they were at war upon every open question in entomology There were memorable occasions At times the Royal Entomological Society meetings resembled nothing Chamber of Deputies whole, I fancy Pawkins was nearer the truth than Hapley But Hapley was skilful rhetoric, had turn for ridicule rare in scientific man, was endowed with vast energy, and had fine sense of injury matter extinguished species; while Pawkins was man of dull presence, prosy of speech, in shape not unlike water-barrel, over conscientious with testimonials, and suspected of jobbing museum appointments So the young men gathered round Hapley and applauded him long struggle, vicious beginning and growing at last to pitiless antagonism The successive turns of fortune, now an advantage to one side and now to another--now Hapley tormented by some success of Pawkins, and now Pawkins outshone by Hapley, belong rather history of entomology than story

[Footnote A: "Remarks on Recent Revision of Microlepidoptera " _Quart Journ Entomological Soc , 1863 ]

[Footnote B: "Rejoinder to certain Remarks," etc Ibid 1864 ]

[Footnote C: "Further Remarks," etc Ibid ]

But in 1891 Pawkins, whose health bad for , published some work "mesoblast" Death's Head Moth What the mesoblast Death's Head Moth matter rap story But the work was far below his usual standard, and gave Hapley an opening he had coveted for years worked night and day to most advantage

In an elaborate critique he rent Pawkins to tatters--one can fancy the man's disordered black hair, queer dark eyes flashing as he went antagonist--and Pawkins made reply, halting, ineffectual, with painful gaps of silence, and yet malignant no mistaking his will to wound Hapley, nor his incapacity But few who heard him-- absent meeting--realised how ill the man was

Hapley got his opponent down, and meant to finish him He followed with simply brutal attack upon Pawkins, form of paper development of moths in general, paper showing evidence of most extraordinary amount of mental labour, and yet couched in violently controversial tone Violent as , an editorial note witnesses modified It covered Pawkins with shame and confusion of face It left no loophole; murderous in argument, and utterly contemptuous in tone; an awful thing declining years of man's career

The world of entomologists waited breathlessly rejoinder from Pawkins try one, for Pawkins had always been game But when it came it surprised them rejoinder of Pawkins was to catch influenza, proceed to pneumonia, and die

perhaps as effectual reply as make under the circumstances, and largely turned the current of feeling against Hapley The very people who had most gleefully cheered on those gladiators became serious consequence There no reasonable doubt the fret defeat had contributed death of Pawkins limit even to scientific controversy, said serious people Another crushing attack was already press and appeared day funeral I don't think Hapley exerted himself to stop it People remembered how Hapley had hounded down his rival, and forgot that rival's defects Scathing satire reads ill over fresh mould The thing provoked comment daily papers This it made me think that you had probably heard of Hapley and this controversy But, as already remarked, scientific workers live in world own; half the people, I dare say, who go along Piccadilly Academy every year, tell you where the learned societies abide Many even think that research is kind of happy-family cage all kinds of men lie down together in peace

private thoughts Hapley forgive Pawkins for dying first place, mean dodge to escape the absolute pulverisation Hapley had in hand for him, and second, it left Hapley's mind with queer gap For twenty years he had worked hard, sometimes far night, and seven days week, with microscope, scalpel, collecting-net, and pen, and almost entirely with reference to Pawkins The European reputation he had won had come as an incident great antipathy He had gradually worked climax last controversy It had killed Pawkins, but it had also thrown Hapley out of gear, so , doctor advised him up work for time, and rest So Hapley went down into quiet village in Kent, and thought day and night of Pawkins, and good things now impossible about him

At last Hapley began to realise in what direction the pre-occupation tended He determined fight , and started by trying to read novels But get his mind off Pawkins, white face and making his last speech--every sentence beautiful opening for Hapley He turned to fiction--and found it had no grip on him He read the "Island Nights' Entertainments" until his "sense of causation" was shocked beyond endurance Bottle Imp Then he went to Kipling, and found he "proved nothing," besides being irreverent and vulgar These scientific people have their limitations Then unhappily, he tried Besant's "Inner House," opening chapter set his mind upon learned societies and Pawkins at once

So Hapley turned to chess, and found it little more soothing He soon mastered the moves chief gambits and commoner closing positions, and began to beat the Vicar But then the cylindrical contours opposite king began to resemble Pawkins standing up and gasping ineffectually against check-mate, and Hapley decided up chess

Perhaps the study of some new branch of science would after all be better diversion The best rest is change of occupation Hapley determined to plunge at diatoms, and had one smaller microscopes and Halibut's monograph sent down from London He thought that perhaps if get up vigorous quarrel with Halibut, able life afresh and forget Pawkins And hard at work habitual strenuous fashion, microscopic denizens way-side pool

third day diatoms that Hapley became aware of novel addition local fauna working late microscope, only light room brilliant little lamp special form of green shade Like all experienced microscopists, he kept both eyes open only way to avoid excessive fatigue One eye was over the instrument, and bright and distinct circular field microscope, across which brown diatom was slowly moving other eye Hapley saw, as it were, without seeing only dimly conscious brass side instrument, the illuminated part table-cloth, sheet of notepaper, the foot lamp, darkened room beyond

Suddenly his attention drifted from one eye other The table-cloth was material called tapestry by shopmen, and rather brightly coloured The pattern was in gold, with small amount of crimson and pale blue upon greyish ground At one point the pattern seemed displaced, and vibrating movement colours point

Hapley suddenly moved his head back and looked with both eyes His mouth fell open with astonishment

large moth or butterfly; its wings spread in butterfly fashion !

strange it room at all, windows were closed Strange have attracted his attention when fluttering to its present position Strange should match the table-cloth Stranger far that to him, Hapley, the great entomologist, altogether unknown no delusion crawling slowly towards the foot lamp

"New Genus, by heavens ! And in England ! " said Hapley, staring

Then he suddenly thought of Pawkins Nothing maddened Pawkins more . And Pawkins was dead !

Something head and body insect became singularly suggestive of Pawkins, just chess king

"Confound Pawkins ! " said Hapley "But catch this " And looking round him for some means of capturing the moth, he rose slowly out chair Suddenly the insect rose, struck the edge lampshade--Hapley heard the "ping"--and vanished shadow

In moment Hapley had whipped off the shade, so whole room was illuminated The thing had disappeared, but soon his practised eye detected it wall-paper near the door He went towards it poising the lamp-shade for capture Before within striking distance, however, it had risen and was fluttering round the room fashion kind, it flew with sudden starts and turns, seeming to vanish here and reappear there Once Hapley struck, and missed; then again

The third time he hit his microscope The instrument swayed, struck and overturned the lamp, and fell noisily floor The lamp turned over table and, very luckily, went out Hapley was left dark With start the strange moth blunder into his face