WCP161

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Dec[embe]^r. 23rd. 1898

My dear Will¹

I have been so busy that I almost forgot today was Post day, so I must just write a few lines in a hurry. The men tunnelling under our path & Holly tree have almost finished their part of the work. It has taken almost a fortnight, and the last 40 feet has been tunnelling, & as it is all loose sand every bit has had to be timbered sides & roof. They will I think finish today to the foot of the steps, and next week Alner will come & do the garden part relaying the drains, inspection pit, &c. &c. & then we have to pump out the cesspool and fill it with earth, & that will take I dare say 3 days altogether. We are all interested now about the sale of Dr. Allman’s house & grounds & hope some one interested in botany & gardening will take it. We [2] are glad to that Mac is rather funking the Pacific Ocean & the welds of N[ew]. Zealand. It will be very much better to see California well & then see the South-eastern States, which are very different from the Northern. Many of the Southern cities are now rapidly increasing & I should not wonder if you got more work there than any where else. Above all things write at once to Mrs. Wallace at Stockton, and go straight there, before you go to S[an]. Francisco. I am sure they will be glad to have you both for a week at least, and will be much disappointed, and even offended, if you do not go. Her address is 819, Channel Street, Stockton, Cal.[ifornia] Ask her whether you may forward your baggage there (if you send any). It will be advisable, if you go, to go as early as you can as the roads are passable, so as to get into California in the spring. Then your [3] two horses & tent will enable you to go to see the Yosemite, the Big Trees &c. &c. & camp out very cheaply. If you are really stumped for money, ask her to lend you what you want & I will repay her. Your cousin Herbert² is Assistant Engineer of the Southern Railway & has the entire management of the whole line from N.[orth] California to Texas through New Mexico. Very likely he might get you "through passes", or perhaps know of some work. From Texas, working your way north through Mississippi, Georgia, S.[outh] Carolina & Virginia, to Washington & Philadelphia you would see all the true South, & perhaps get some good jobs on the way. Next winter in the South would be pleasant & then come home in the Spring of the year 1900! You [4] ought to write a book after that. At Stockton they have ^a good library & reading room, & there, if not before, try & get Scriber’s Magazine for the last 10-12 months, containing Mr. Wyckoff’s articles on "The Worker’s". His last one is just out, giving his tramp from Denver to S.[an] Francisco but it is cut very short. The earlier ones are more interesting. Violet finds now she does not learn German enough where she is, as they go out visiting so much and she is left alone. So she is going to try & find another boarding house where there are lots of young people. I hope she may. Herbert Wallace’s 2nd. wife is a Texan girl, & he can give you introductions to her family, so you will have some friends to start with. Is not the buck-board affair doubtful? Surely your wagon experience was not encouraging. Try & get some horsey knowledge at your friends the ranchers! With wishes for a happy new year & many happy returns of your birthday,

Believe me | Your affect.[ionate] Pa | A.R. Wallace [signature]