Abstract
I HAVE read with singular pain a paragraph in your notice (signed with the initials of one whom I admire and respect) of my Life of Fleeming Jenkin. To accuse a man of falsehood in private life is a strong step. But I must explain to your reviewer, I might lie to him all day long and not be so disgraced as if I put one single falsehood in a book. For the making of books is my trade by which I live; I supply them on honour, and the public gives me bread for them in confidence. Your reviewer will perhaps more readily understand what he has done (I am sure in ignorance) if I supply him with a parallel. To say that a man of science was a liar would be highly disagreeable; but if I were to say he had falsified an experiment, and to say so publicly in print, I should be curious to see the expression of his face.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
STEVENSON, R. Life of Fleeming Jenkin. Nature 37, 559 (1888). https://doi.org/10.1038/037559a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/037559a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.