WCP241

[1]

Parkstone. Dorset.

Oct[obe]^r. 22^nd. 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 Capt[ai]ⁿ Marshall Hall’s³, & I shall go out with him sometimes to get some arinkles[?]. 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"[sic]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[ainin]^g several papers at the Psychical Science Congress, including one of mine, which (the Ed. wrote me) was listened to with "rapt attention" ! I have also read Haggard’s Cleopatra.⁹ It is wonderful, but too melancholy. Some passages are about as fine as anything I ever read.

I wrote to Mr. Knowles¹⁰ (Ed. 19th. Cent¹¹.) to ask if he had forgotten my Sunday art[icle]. 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[n]’t that cruel! that exquisite title! It evidently may be months yet, & he has [had] some numbers lately [that were] very dull! Mr.[?] Sharpe¹² has read my "House of Lords" article, & 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 Epoch & Origin of Lakes in Fortnightly¹³ for Nov. and Dec. I have just got the proof of [the] second one now, & think it will convert even Capt. 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 [there] 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 tail¹⁴ has been finely in flower & much admired though damaged by rain & wind. D^r Allman¹⁵ 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 & bricklaying are ordered.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]