there's a good chance St. Martin was happier in his simple shack with his family, "perfectly necket," than Beaumont was toiling in his labs, misunderstood by his colleagues. To each his own. Beaumont was a man for whom career came first. Like any experimenter, he was meticulous and exacting. People are messy, unpredictable things. Science you can control. Which is why St. Martin was such a bugbear for Beaumont.
The text discusses the contrasting lives of St. Martin and Beaumont, highlighting a significant difference in their happiness and priorities. St. Martin, living a simple life with his family in a small shack, likely found contentment and joy in his personal life, enjoying the simplicity of being "perfectly necket." In contrast, Beaumont was deeply focused on his scientific career, often feeling misunderstood by his peers in a demanding and meticulous professional environment.
This dichotomy illustrates the theme that individual fulfillment can stem from different sources. While Beaumont prioritized his career and the control that science offers, St. Martin's happiness derived from his uncomplicated lifestyle and familial relationships. The text suggests that success and satisfaction are subjective, as one might be happier in a humble setting than another in the pursuit of academic prestige.