WCP275

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

Sept^r. 23rd 1896

My dear Violet¹

I enclose you a letter from Miss Lowe to her mother with a place of their Châlet, cost &c., It seems to have cost a good deal for so small a one, but that is partly owing to there being no road to it which made the carriage of all the materials expensive. You can keep the letter & plan.

As to your "startling proposition" I dare say it can be managed. If you like to do without your allowance for Michaelmas & [2] 'Xmas that will be ₤.8 deducting the ₤.2 you owe Ma.² The other ₤.8 I will give you for a birthday present in January, or when the machine is ready for delivery. But before you decide on having one made would it not be well to try 2 or 3 different makes to see which you like best? Also do not pay a deposit in advance. Will³ has just lost ₤3 which he paid for a gun ^{in advance,} & the makers went bankrupted & he has [3] lost it. Also enquire about the new "Fleuss tubeless pneumatic Tyre" which seems to be a great improvement & to save the nuisance of pricking the tube, blowing up &c. &c. — at least I think so.

As to your Magazine I am afraid I can write nothing suitable. I can’t write stories or anything for kids or their Mas. Harris⁴ has just been writing to me again for something for the Saturday Rev. I think I shall try him with some articles made out of my lecture to be afterwards [4] published as a book. Mr. Sharpe⁵ has read it and he thinks it will make a very interesting book.

Grandpa⁶ is here, & Will came over on Saturday afternoon & went back on Sunday. He has got a rise to 35/- a week at which he is much pleased. He asked for it. You must try & get another rise this year. It has been very wet. To day we went to the waterworks bog & found lots of the rare heath!

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]