Little Bird in Great Britain

I saw the Darwin exhibit at the Natural History Museum in London a few weeks ago. There was a lot of really great stuff in the exhibit but I have to admit that this note on whether to marry or not was my favorite thing. It has some tough competition. There was a tiny gun on display that Darwin had on board the Beagle. There was a description of Darwin tossing Galapagos iguanas into the ocean to see if they were ablt to recognize him as a pest, they didn't (so great!). In his pro/con list on whether or not to marry Darwin includes 'a terrible loss of time' on the Pros list by mistake. Eventually he chose to marry his cousin (-Marry - Marry - Marry - Q.E.D.). I think I love this because even here he is being methodical and debating against himself here. It is a more human look at a man whose work I more than admire.

This is the question

Marry

Children — (if it Please God) — Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one, — object to be beloved & played with. — —better than a dog anyhow. — Home, & someone to take care of house — Charms of music & female chit-chat. — These things good for one's health. — Forced to visit & receive relations but terrible loss of time. —

W My God, it is intolerable to think of spending ones whole life, like a neuter bee, working, working, & nothing after all. — No, no won't do. — Imagine living all one's day solitarily in smoky dirty London House. — Only picture to yourself a nice soft wife on a sofa with good fire, & books & music perhaps — Compare this vision with the dingy reality of Grt. Marlbro' St.

Marry — Marry — Marry Q.E.D.

Not Marry

No children, (no second life), no one to care for one in old age.— What is the use of working 'in' without sympathy from near & dear friends—who are near & dear friends to the old, except relatives

Freedom to go where one liked — choice of Society & little of it. — Conversation of clever men at clubs — Not forced to visit relatives, & to bend in every trifle. — to have the expense & anxiety of children — perhaps quarelling — Loss of time. — cannot read in the Evenings — fatness & idleness — Anxiety & responsibility — less money for books &c — if many children forced to gain one's bread. — (But then it is very bad for ones health to work too much)

Perhaps my wife wont like London; then the sentence is banishment & degradation into indolent, idle fool — Translated on Darwin Online