From A. L. Kielland1 31 December 1880
Stavanger
den 31te. Dec. 1880.
Høistærede Mr. Darwin!
—naar jeg hengav mig til min Yndlingsfornøielse i Fontainbleau: at fodre Karperne, betragtede jeg ofte de to kinesiske Løver, som staa der tæt ved Dammen.2
Og en Dag fik jeg den pludselige Inskydelse, som jeg nu vil fortælle Dem—halvt i Spøg, halvt i den Tanke, at jeg maaske er slumpet op i en interessant Ide.
Disse “Løver” ere nemlig i Virkeligheden meget ulige Løver og have igrunden ligesaa stor Lighed med Padder. Betragter man nu Løvepadden tilhøire, saa bliver man strax opmærksom paa to tykke Traade af Slim, som flyder ud af dens Munndviger, slynger sig om dens Legeme og forener sig i en rund Kugle—fuld af smaa Stjerner, som den holder i Forlabben.
Løvepadden tilvenstre har de samme udflydende Traade af Slim; men den holder ingen Kugle. Derimod har den en liten Unge ved Foden, og denne Unge er næsten en fuldstændig Løveunge, det paddeagtige er hos den næsten ganske udslettet.
Min Ide er nu, at i disse to Figurer er Evolutionstheorien—Kontinuiteten i Naturen—symboliseret; Løven—Dyrenes Konge—er sat i det noreste Slægtskab med den slimede, foragtede Padde.
Løvepadden til høire laver med sine Forben en Kugle af det Slim som flyder ud af dens Mund. Dette oppfatter jeg som et udtryk for aldgamle Forestillinger om dette Dyrs ejendommelige Forplantningsmaade. Og selve Kuglen med de smaa stjernelignende Punkter er paafaldende lig de slimede Klumper med Padderogn = æg, som vi finder i Grøfter og Vandpytter om Vaaren.
Løvepadden tilvenstre viser Udviklingen [et] skridt længere fremme. Her er Slimkuglen forsvunden; men den lille Unge, som er fremkommen, staar Løvetypen mangfoldige Trin nærmere end Moderdyret.
Saaledes—mener jeg—har den store Sammenhængstanke fundet sit halvt mystiske Udtryk i disse to Værker af ældgammel (?) kinesisk Kunst.3
Jeg er Romanforfatter og ikke Spor av Videnskabsmann. Derfor beder jeg Dem opfatte dette mere som et fantastisk Indfald end som en Iagttagelse, der gjør Fordring paa alvorlig Opmærksomher. Imidlertid - skulde der være noget af Interesse heri, saa vilde jeg selvfølgelig være meget glad ver at høre noget derom.
Tillad mig tilslut i den dybeste Ærbødighed at sende Dem min lille Tak for det store, nye Livssyn, som aabnede sig for mig, da jeg blev bekjendt med Deres Værker.
Deres meget ærbødige | Alexander L. Kielland
[Contemporary translation]
Very highly honoured Mr. Darwin,
When for my amusement at Fontainebleau I took to feeding the Carps (Karper) I often looked at the two Chinese lions (Löver) which stand close by the tank. And one day the ?grotesque idea occurred to me which I will now tell you half—in joke (Spög) and half with the idea that I may perhaps have stumbled on an interesting Idea. These “lions” are in fact very unlike lions and have great likeness to toads (?Padder). If one examines the lion-toads closer one at once observes two thick threads of slime (?Slim) which flow out of the corners of their mouths (Mundviger) wind round their bodies and end in a round ball full of small stones which is held in the forepaws (Forlabben)
The lion-toad on the left has the same thread of slime flowing out, but it has no ball. On the other hand it has a small young one at its feet, & this young one is almost completely a young lion; in it the toad nature is almost completely excluded. My idea is then that these two figures are the continuity of the evolution theory in natural symbols. The king of the race of lions is … (sat); the . .race with the slimy despised toad The lion-toad on the right holds (?laver) with its foreleg a ball of that slime which flows out of its mouth This I take as an expression by primitive representation concerning the peculiar mode of propagation of this animal. And the ball itself with the small round stone-like lumps is strikingly like the slimy clots with toads eggs which we find in ditches & ponds in the Spring.
The lion-toad on the left shows the development at a much more advanced stage. Here the ball of slime has disappeared but the small young one which has been produced stands very far nearer the lion type than does the mother animal.
Thus as I think has the great idea of correlation (or unity) found its half mystic expression in these two works of antique (? sic in orig.) chinese art
I am a novelist & not in the least a man of science Therefore I beg you will consider this more as a fantastic idea than as an observation which demands careful (alvorlig) attention If however there shd. be anything of interest herein, I should naturally be very glad to hear something on the subject.
In conclusion permit me in deepest veneration to send you my insignificant thanks for the great & new light which was opened to me when I made acquaintance with your works | A.L.Kielland
Löve = lion; compare with German Löwe Padde = toad throughout, I do not know these words | G.H.D.
Macbeth | “Paddock calls”4 Paddock is a toad & “ock” is merely a diminutive as in bullock
Footnotes
Bibliography
Handbook for visitors to Paris: A handbook for visitors to Paris; containing a description of the most remarkable objects, with general advice and information for English travellers in that metropolis, and on the way to it. 3d edition. London: John Murray. 1867.
Translation
From A. L. Kielland1 31 December 1880
Stavanger
31st. Dec. 1880.
Most revered Mr Darwin!
When I indulge myself in my favourite pleasure in Fontainebleau—feeding the carp—I often observe the two Chinese lions that stand close to the pond.2
And one day I had a sudden thought, which I’d now like to tell you about—half in jest, half with the thought that perhaps I’ve stumbled on an interesting idea.
These “lions” are really not much like lions and in fact have just as strong a resemblance to toads. Now, if you look closely at the lion-toad on the right, your attention will be drawn to two thick trails of slime that stream from its mouth, twisting and turning round each other, ending up in a tight ball—full of little stars, held in its fore paws.
The lion-toad to the left has the same streaming trails of slime; but it isn’t holding a ball. Instead, it has a small cub at its feet, and the cub is almost like a real-life lion-cub, as the toad-like quality is almost completely lacking.
Now, my idea is that these two figures are evolutionary theory—continuity in nature—symbolised: the lion—king of beasts—is placed in the closest kinship to the slimy, despised toad.
The lion-toad to the right makes with its fore-legs a tight ball from the slime streaming from its mouth. This I see as an expression of the old idea of this animal’s peculiar method of reproduction. And the ball itself, with its star-like points, is strikingly like the slimy clumps of toad-spawn = eggs, often found in ditches and puddles in the spring.
The lion-toad to the left shows the evolutionary process one step further on. Here the slime-ball has gone, but the little cub which has appeared is many stages closer to the species of lion than is its mother.
In this way—I think—the great idea of evolutionary development has found its quasi-mystical expression in these two works of ancient (?) Chinese art.3
I am a novelist and not in any way a scientist. Therefore I ask you to take this more as a stroke of the imagination than a scientific observation demanding serious attention. However – should there be anything of interest here I should of course be very happy to hear of it.
Finally, let me send you, with deepest reverence, my inadequate thanks for the great new philosophy of life which opened up for me when I came to know your works.
Your humble admirer | Alexander L. Kielland
Footnotes
Bibliography
Handbook for visitors to Paris: A handbook for visitors to Paris; containing a description of the most remarkable objects, with general advice and information for English travellers in that metropolis, and on the way to it. 3d edition. London: John Murray. 1867.
Summary
Discusses Chinese lions at Fontainebleau; considers their appearance may indicate an ancient knowledge of some sort of evolutionary connection between lions and toads.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12958
- From
- Alexander Lange Kielland
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Stavanger
- Source of text
- DAR 201: 18, 18a
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp (Norwegian)
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12958,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12958.xml
