WCP265

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

June 23rd. 1895

My dear Violet¹

I send you two five pound notes, one for your quarter the other towards your

Exam. Expenses. Mr. Silk² has just come to spend a week. I wrote strongly to Harris³ or I should not have got him. I had a letter from Ma⁴ yesterday. She & Aunt Rose⁵ were enjoying themselves at Lucerne had been up Mt. Pilatus & to the top of the Lake, & are now I suppose at Meyringen. [2] The total necessary expenses for a week at Lucerne & back are £5.10. which is £.5.5. for the trip & 5/- for carriage to Chalet & servants. But only 2 meals a day are given so lunch has to be provided, & excursions of course cost money— Then the second week at Meyringen & Interlachen &c. is 3 1/2 guineas more with another 5/- making just £.9 for the fortnight.

I have given away all [3] the Sunday tickets this month but I send you the first in July & two for any day.

The reason that the Excursions are so cheap is that about 100 go every week, & the Railways & Steamboats take them of course at very low excursion rates. To go so cheaply you are obliged to go with the party, but you may come back by yourself & stay as long as you like at your own expense up to 6 weeks. I & grandpa⁶ [4] are going the same way to Lucerne, but then are going on our own hook as we want to get up to the mountains as much as possible. We have not quite decided where we shall go beyond Lucerne yet, but are in correspondence with the Secretary & I am studying Guide Books & Maps with all my eyes. I sent Will⁷ some roses on Friday. They are still coming on. I will send a few more soon.

Send⁸ me the name of your hotel on the Wengen Alp, & how much a day they charged.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]