Parkstone, Dorset.
Feby. 1st. 18901
My dear Violet
I have not written because I have nothing to tell, & because you tell us next to nothing. You never told us what you thought of "the North" — or any thing or body you saw in Liverpool except a "corn-warehouse". Did you see Mr. Higgins2, or Prof. Lodge3, or anybody I knew, — & where did you go & what [did you] do all that fortnight !!!!
We are muddling on with workmen as usual & very [2] little done — On Friday night a flood rushed into the back entrance across the kitchen floor to the back passage & largder, and left a rich deposit of alluvial mud — quite a study in geological formations! The bath-room is at length finished, all but staining & varnishing, & it will look so snug you will want to bathe every day and all day long, while William4 will perpetually wash in the new basin with hot and cold water laid on. The new stained glass in the swing door looks rich [3] and the vista from the front right through to the bath room window is quite palatial.
5My lecture is not to come off, as Mr. Stainton Moses6 was ill & could not make the arrangements in time, before the "Arena" article would appear in February.
I hope you are getting to feel right and comfortable now with Madame. It is very nice for you to go to Harrow every morning as it gives you a little exercise & fresh air. I send you some Zoo. tickets for two next Sunday & 4 others in case any of you like to go.
[4] A lady has come to live near the Sandbanks who has two kids & is kinder-garten mad! so you can call & see her & compare notes in your next holidays. Your watch has not come back yet, but I will enquire for it soon.
Have you heard of the death of old Hampden7, — & of a better man Bradlaugh8!
Farewell | Your affectionate Papa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP208.208)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
[1] [p. (1)]
ARW to VIW.)
Parkstone, Dorset. Feb.1st. 1890
My dear Violet I have not written because I have nothing to tell, & because you tell us next to nothing. You never told us what you t thought of "the North" — or any thing or body you saw in Liverpool except a "corn-warehouse". Did you see Mr Huggins [sic]1, or Prof. Lodge2, or any body I knew, — & where did you go & what did you do all that fortnight !!!!
We are muddling on with workmen as usual & very little done — On Friday night a flood rushed into the back entrance across the kitchen floor to the back passage & larder, and left a rich deposit of alluvial mud — quite a study in geological formations! Yhe [sic] bath-room is at length finished, and all but staining & varnishing, and it will look so snug you will want to bathe every day and all day long, while William3 will perpetually wash in the new basin with hot and cold water laid on. The new stained glass in the swing door looks rich and the vista from the front door right through to the bath-room window is quite palatial ............
Status: Draft transcription [Transcription (WCP208.5216)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP208,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP208