WCP250

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

June 1st. 1894

My dear Violet¹

The Exams.² are now over. They were very dull & and fewer papers than usual. It has been horrid cold weather for a fortnight but is now slightly improving.

The spider was the largest British species, not very uncommon on bogs &c.. About a fortnight after you left we saw it one day sitting on a water-lily leaf! We have not seen it since.

I enclose you Will’s³ last letter, at his request, giving a long account of his Whitsuntide⁴ Excursion. He must have enjoyed it! It is arranged for him to come home for a fortnight when you come, so you must let [2] him & us know as soon as you can when your holidays begin, & your other arrangements. I have got another remarkable Socialist book called — "The Great Revolution of 1905"⁵ — supposed to be written in 1930, and describing the whole (supposed) political history of England ending in the coming in of a Socialist government in 1905, & the results of it. It is well written, very realistic, rather dry with political details, but almost as good as "Looking Backward".⁶ The author is a new man — a Mr. Hayes — who has published the book at his own expense, so I have bought [3] 3 copies to distribute.

Mr. Forbes⁷ is the author of "A Naturalists Wanderings in the Eastern Archipelago,"⁸ & Mrs. Forbes was 2 months alone with savages in Timor Laut, & had most exciting adventures & has written ab a book about it. Since then Mr. Forbes has been in New Guinea & in New Zealand. I do not think I ever met him but I have corresponded with him. You had better make his acquaintance at the Museum. He is a good botanist. The garden looks beautiful & green now. Chess went on all night up to Exams. I think I have found at last a good player in Mr. [4] Carter of the Kinson Pottery. Mr. Ponton introduced him & he is coming soon to play. He is a strong radical individualist — a kind of Anarchist!, also an Agnostic!, everything else that is horrid & bad in the eyes of the Parkstonites!! The Marshall Hall’s⁹ have gone to Bournemouth ^{a month since} for a change for Miss Hall, but she is no better. They are thinking of going more inland, & Capt. M. H. hopes to be able to go to Switzerland. Mr. Clement Reid¹⁰ & his sisters are also going ^{in August}. I am reading Conan Doyle’s "Refugees".¹¹ The first third is rather slow but in the middle, where I now am, it gets very exciting. Mr. Sharpe¹² has lent me Mr. Stead’s¹³ book on Chicago.¹⁴ It is very interesting & wonderful. Your parson friend would, I am sure, like it. Raining hard!

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]