WCP185

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

August 14th. 1904

My dear Will

We hope you feel better for your short holiday, & that your disagreeable labours will not make you bad again. Before I forget it I want to ask if you have the key of my box of Chessmen? The key used always to be in it at Parkstone. Now the box is locked, & key must be found. I suppose that at the moving someone locked the box & took care of the key. Did you? Ma & I have tried all the keys we have without success.

The only new event here is the arrival of the Autograph book from Bright’s. It is very large & thick but the inside paper is rather thin & poor [2] but that is no doubt to make room for more letters. It looks very well outside but is just too big for any of my shelves except those next [to] the floor where the big Atlas is.

I am glad to say my eyes are nearly well and I can read again & have begun slowly at the Autobiography again. I begin to get more accustomed to the idea of writing about my own ideas, character &c. how it developed, & how "everything was for the best" &c. &c.

If I can but go on pretty steadily for another year I shall manage to finish it. Then I must get some good man — the publisher’s [3] Reader perhaps — to read it over[,] cut out whatever he likes & make suggestions &c. I have now just come to when I was 21 & had to look out for my own living, and have been giving a sketch of my own character at that time, & showing how it, with the circumstances of my life with my brother, determined my future life — travels — writings &c. &c. I rather think that kind of thing will interest people.

Mr. Casey wrote me the other day ^and enclosed copy of a Testimonial Edw? had received from the College "Censor", & was very much pleased [4] & said it was the most flattering one he had ever seen. I send it on to you that you may see what a fine character your big young friend is. I gave him nearly as good a one. Violet¹ seems to be enjoying Borth which turns out to be better than expected, but I dare say she has written to you. Sir Thomas Hanbury²called the other day with Mrs. Casey. He told me a lot of interesting things about Italy & France, & the horrid behaviour of the various Town Officials &c.

Let me hear how you are getting on.

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