WCP227

[1]

[in unknown hand] A good ending 6

Parkstone, Dorset

May 5th. 1892

My dear Violet¹

I send you two Sundays Zoo. Tickets & also 4 for any day. I also send one Bot. ticket I have of yours. If you put in the date I have no doubt you will be admitted. If they make any difficulty ask to see Mr. Sowerby, & tell him who you are & he will let you in.

I think the breeding cage as you describe it, is worth the money. Rosa has got a good place in a family which has 3 houses, Bournemouth, London, & Scotland [2] living part of the year in each, so she will see the world. We are going to have Mrs. Greensell’s girl, who will leave though Mrs. G. does ^not want to part with ^her & gives her a very good character.

I have finished reading "Freeland." It is very good. As good a story as "Looking Backward" but not quite so pleasantly written — rather heavy & Germanic in places. The results are much the same as in "Looking Backward" but brought about in a different & very ingenious manner. It may [3] be called "Individualistic Socialism".

I shall be up in London soon I expect, to the first Meetings of the Examiners in the great science of "omnium gatherum". Then to the "soup plate" presentation (as D^r. Geikie² calls it.) Then more Ex. [Examiners] meetings.³ Then L. Nationalisation. I shall be quite sick of Babylon this year! The Horticultural Exhibition however will be a small solace. Also Bull’s Orchids — also Kew!

Busy. — Your affect^te. Papa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[4] P.S Kitty caught a rat,— & had the little one in the garden playing and smelling & licking it all day. So she is now getting wild & will have to depart before mischief is done! Captⁿ. M. Hall⁴ is at his son’s. If you call on Sunday you can see him, & tell him about Hedgehogs! Kind regards to Miss Macdonald.

A.R.W.