WCP284

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Feb[ruar]^y. 21^st. 1892

My dear Violet¹

I enclose a rough diagram showing why Venus & Jupiter were in conjunction. It happens in a little less than every two years, I think. If you drew the orbits out on a large scale & marked the position of each planet each month, you would see exactly how often. Of course Venus appears to move backwards & forwards during its revolution inside our orbit. You have I suppose heard that poor Mr. Bates² is dead. He [2] was 2 years younger than I am but being weakened by constant indoor London life the influenza was too much for him.

I have found one small collecting box. Is it any use to you now? It is about 5 inches x 3 inches.

I have got rid of my cough at last & shall begin gardening again next week. The chess games still go on slowly. I think I shall win one & lose one. I have been playing also with Miss West [3] and Mr. Pocock. Also Mr[.] Linton from Bournemouth, who is the best player of the lot.

Mrs. Besant³ came here for a couple of hours last Tuesday morning & Mr⁴ & Mrs. Sharpe came over to meet her. Ma⁵ & Mrs. Sharpe had been to her lecture on Monday at Bournemouth, & Ma & Miss Webb went again to Poole on Tuesday. We did not get much out of her as Mr. Sharpe was doing his metaphysical jaw most of the time.

[4] Let us know how you liked Hamlet. It is supposed to be a much grander play than Henry VIII.

Must shut up as Ma is going to post.

Your affectionate Papa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]