Darwin Day

Feb 12, 2023

On my first day back in England, I visited Down House (Charles Darwin’s home) with my family. It was not my first visit and this is not my first Darwin Day. But some of you have not experienced either of those things, so it is worth sharing some of my memories on Darwin’s birthday (b. February 12, 1809).

Occasions such as these have meaning for us not because of how much we know about Darwin’s life and theories—the truly meaningful aspect of Darwin’s life is how our fragmentary knowledge of that person fits into our own life and beliefs.

Down House

Down House represents my ideal place to live. Darwin was able to do his research and writing surrounded by his family in a beautiful natural setting. There was ample space in the house for an office and billard table, a sand track for walking meditation, as well as the flower and kitchen gardens planned by his wife Emma Wedgwood, who loved gardening. I particularly love the outdoor combination of woods, pasture, and garden.

On this visit, I learned that the notebooks and diaries of both Charles and Emma are available online (Darwin Online). I would like to experience what life was like at Down House. However, more intimate knowledge might ruin the ideal that I have constructed, which I can set in the night sky as a star to wish upon, for the life that I could have if I lived in such circumstances.

Darwin Day

My brother, Michael Childress, invited me to the Darwin Day celebration that he organized when we were both teaching at Clemson University. It was an annual event that exposed the students to Darwin’s life and ideas. There was also a special chocolate cake.

MRS. OGLE’S WESSON OIL CHOCOLATE CAKE

2 eggs

1 c. Wesson oil (or other vegetable oil)

1 c. buttermilk

1 c. boiling water

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. cocoa powder

2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

Butter cream or cream cheese frosting (see below)

Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9- x 13-inch pan. Combine eggs, oil, buttermilk, and boiling water. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

RECIPE NOTE: This recipe is from Michael Childress and Margaret Ptacek by way of Mrs. Ogle. This rich chocolate 9 x 13 pan cake is a favorite in our house for all celebrations. There are two frosting recipes on the back of the recipe card, one for butter cream and one for cream cheese. I think the butter cream is the family favorite, as it is the only one I think I have tasted. We make this cake every year for February 12th—Darwin’s birthday. It has been a big hit for all our previous Darwin Day celebrations. Lucky (our Dalmatian) once ate the center out of one year’s cake before we could frost it. Fortunately, he survived a severe bout of digestive upset from eating too much chocolate.