WCP1252

[1]¹

Parkstone, Dorset.

Nov[embe]^r.. 16th. 1897

My dear Will

Yours of the 29th. Oct[ober]. (P[ost]. card — in bed) just received, beginning when you left Chicago; so I expect one letter has been lost. Your last was from Buffalo & you were just starting for Chicago, so please fill the gap in your next, as to how you reached Chicago, how long you staid [sic] there, what you ^{did and} said &c. I sent my last to Denver with account of the Phrenological Interviews, & sent you his description of Numquam’s² character from Mac’s photo. Now I will send you yours & Mac’s.

W[illiam].G[reenell].W[allace]. from Photo

His prominent feature is determination to stick to principle, when adopted.

Is rather incautious as to deciding, — is thought to be rather obstinate.

Friendship for his companions. They influence him without his knowing it.

Would be better if he had more desire to [2] work with his hands — is constructive but does not educate it enough.

Is very fond of colours, good arranger of colours — splendid colour-tastes.

Is fond of approbation — is dogmatic when people want to move him.

"Form" not large — "weight" good[.]

Sanguine temperament — does not perform so much as he expects to do.

Wants a kind friend to lead him to make the best of himself.

NB. "Weight" gives balance &c. for gymnastics, skills at games &c.³

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He did not know who you were so you are each especially flattered, but I think it is fairly correct, but I know nothing about the colour!

Now for Mac. Let him read yours & you read his, & send me your opinions as to how far he has exhibited your specialities. [3]

Mac Alpine

Large intellect — Dissatisfied idea of life. Has not risen to his own ideals yet.

Benevolence large — has peculiar ways of showing it.

Fair ideality [sic] — perhaps poetic.

Sentiments have not grown with his intellect.

Is not so secretive as he appears to be.

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I have just had an interviewer for a paper called "The Bookman". A rather nice young fellow. He has been here over two hours and has got almost everything out of me.

I have now just finished writing the part of my book on Vaccinations, & am about arranging to get it published [4] separately so as to try & influence the Government, through M.P.’s, to abolish the Vacc[inatio]^n. laws altogether. I have now only to redraw the diagrams for the engraver, & rewrite a few pages. Then I shall be free to write the rest of the book.

I am sorry to say the "Mingled Yarn" is very poor — for Numquam — the poorest thing he has written. Yet it might act fairly well.

Hope you will have got some work at Chicago. We did not hear of the blizzard — Was it very bad? I hope you have bicycled all the way to Denver as that is what everybody has not done. A few days back I got a basket of orchids from Plymouth. On clearing the P. O.⁴ labels off the luggage labels, found ‘Burrell[?], Cabin’. So he is back. Am waiting for a letter.

Your affect[ionate]. Pa | Alfred R. Wallace — [signature].