My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

PREDICTIONS FULFILLED 397for me. But in this very year another event hasoccurred even less anticipated by myself, and whichagain accords with the prediction.In February, 1908, the Linnean Society decidedto celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the reading ofthe joint Essays of Darwin and myself on July i,1858, by a Jubilee Celebration and the presentationof a medal with our two portraits to persons connectedwith the event ; and the Council invited meto attend, to give a short address, and to receive oneof the medals.This wholly unexpected and very unusual honourwas in due course conferred upon me in the presenceof many of the most eminent naturalists, British andForeign. Here, then, was yet another " coming moreinto the world," which I thought I had taken myleave of—the world of Science ; and it was anoccasion of publicity that could hardly be exceeded,since the record of it would be carried by the Pressthroughout the whole extent of the civilized world.Here was surely " Satisfaction " for any man, howevergreedy of praise he might be. For myself, I can onlysay that I would have been fully content with a lowerplace than that accorded me, and feel that I attainedto the honour more from the accident of my havinglived to see the Celebration, than from any idea thatI could have the slightest claim to be placed onanything approaching a level with Darwin.With this celebration, and the publication of thisvolume, I close my Memoirs. I now wish my readers,who have so far followed the record of my life-history,a hearty Farewell.