WCP112

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

Dec^r.. 29th.1905

My dear Will

As I have not been away from home for a long time I have at hand no remembrance to send you for your birthday, and can therefore only wish you many happy returns thereof.

Looking round, however, I came across the enclosed Japanese old Time story about Music which I thought might possibly amuse or interest the musical young lady from Wimborne, — to whom you can, if you like, [2] present it, with my Compliments, or your own, as you prefer.

Yesterday was a wet day & the men could not work at the drain, and to day everything is damp and mucky & drizzly, — but they have been at work & have nearly got up to the corner. It nowhere goes below the level of the foundation, and is 6 or 8 feet off at the nearest, and it is also filled up & rammed down, about every ten feet, so that it is not likely to do any harm.

R. Meldola & his wife and a [3] friend are staying at Bournemouth & came over yesterday, & had tea with us. The friend — a Mr. Long — is interested in the Land question, the Unemployed, &c. and we had a good deal of talk. He is I believe a landowner & a farmer, & is interested in Farm Colonies &c. &c. but is not very advanced, & I tried to enlighten him a little. Meldola looks rather gray & grizzly, — but Mrs. M. looks quite stout & flourishing, and can either hear, or understand by lip-reading, a little better than formerly, & goes on [4] talking quite lively, though often not knowing a bit what we have been saying. Still that is better than not talking because she can’t hear us.

I suppose you see the papers & read John Burns’ fine speech the other day. I believe he will do something in his new position, though of course he has not power to do much, unless the Labour & Socialist parties send in about 50 or 100 Labour Members to back him up — which they could do easily if they all worked together. I suppose there are no Socialists at Pinewood!

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace — [signature]