WCP241

[1]

Parkstone. Dorset.

Oct^r. 22nd. 1893

My dear Violet¹

No news here, except that one of the Geological Surveyors — Mr. Clement Reid² — has come ^to stay here for the winter to survey the district. He lodges beyond Captⁿ Marshall Hall’s³, & I shall go out with him sometimes to get some wrinkles. I have had the water brought in at the back gate so as to be safe against freezing in the winter. Other domestic news — if any — I suppose Ma⁴ has told you. I enjoyed "The Wreckers"⁵ very much, but I don’t think it one of Stevenson’s best. There is too much effort to make an inexplicable mystery & too much preparation, which makes the solution when it comes rather of an anticlimax. Miss Elliott has lent us "The Master [2] of Ballantrae"⁶ which I am looking forward to with great expectations, but at present I am in the midst of "The Passenger from Scotland Yard"⁷ which is also very good but too complex, & too much striving at mystery within mystery. I send you a copy of "Rel. Phil. Journal,"⁸ cont^g. several papers at the Psychical Science Congress, including one of mine,⁹ which (the Ed. wrote me) was listened to with "rapt attention" ! I have also read Haggard’s Cleopatra.¹⁰ It is wonderful, but too melancholy. Some passages are about as fine as anything I ever read.

I wrote to Mr. Knowles¹¹ (Ed. 19th. Cent.) to ask if he had forgotten my Sunday art. He answered — "No!— Each month he considered it! It would be out soon!! He couldn’t say when!! I must admit it was not [3] a pressing subject!!! He is going to change the title!!!!" Is’t that cruel! that exquisite title! It evidently may be months yet, & he has some numbers lately very dull! Mr. Sharpe¹² has read my "House of Lords" article,¹³ & likes it, & thinks the Speaker — a weekly literary paper — would have it, so I am going to polish it up a little & try. I have two big articles on the Glacial Epoch¹⁴ & Origin of Lakes¹⁵ in Fortnightly for Nov. and Dec. I have just got the proof of second one now, & think it will convert even Captⁿ. Marshall Hall! It has a page of [4] diagram maps to illustrate a perfectly new & crushing argument!

For your half-term I should say go to Southport for two or three ^days if you can get anyone to join you, or get an introduction to any one there. It will brace you up, & there are fine sands near where are many rare plants. Some of your friends must know people there, or know some nice boardinghouse where you could stay, where you would have some company.

The lion's tail¹⁶ has been finely in flower & much admired though damaged by rain & wind. D^r Allman¹⁷ had never seen it. Canon Usherwood knows it at the Cape, where they call it "Balm" — It is dampish weather now. The pond is not done yet, but bricks & bricklayer are ordered.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]