WCP133

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

March 6th. 1908

My dear Will¹

I have just heard from Mr. Waugh,² that they are glad to hear you will do the book, and that 2 months will do very well. They have sent you 2 sets of sheets.^3,4

You will therefore not be hurried, but nevertheless, you will have to keep on at it, without hurry, so as to do it as well as you can.

I suggest, that you begin reading steadily through, — and crossing out by a single score [2] in pencil every page or par. that you are clear had better be omitted — keeping in view the general notes that I enclose.

Having done this — see if fully half has been cut out.

If not — then during the 2nd. reading ^{or looking through}, cut out more of the less generally interesting matter, so as to bring it closer to well under a half or towards one-third of what it is now. [3] Then go through again, (with MSS. paper ^ready.) and see if any connecting words or sentences seem required, and write them as nearly in my style as you can.

At the beginning of the "Notes" — I have indicated the chief omissions to be made.

That will be your general guide all through. In "conclusion" I may perhaps say — "When in doubt — cut out!"

When⁵ final reductions are made cross out the omitted parts of pages in ink and reject all whole pages.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[4] P.S. Wherever you find that a passage wants shifting to another page or chapter, or when you write any new connecting par — it will be better to cut ^up the page where the MSS comes & stick it together with gum, so as to form good "copy" in proper order. All whole pages cut out to be taken away altogether, — & when finished the whole to be made up into fresh chapters (when necessary) and paged regularly.

Of⁶ course the better it is done the better property it will be.

A.R.W.