WCP32

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Dec[embe]^r. 5^th. 1900

My dear Will

We were very glad to have your letter showing that you have now got into a decent & liberal firm, & no doubt making you feel quite glad you did chuck up the other skin-flints. So it is that many things come to those that can wait, & that seeming misfortunes are blessings in disguise. You also seem to have been put into the most interesting department, involving a good deal of designing & arranging which I suppose you never had to do before. This must be the highest branch of the profession, I suppose, and if you get on well with it will be sure to lead to something good. [2] Your boss will probably do most of this but it will be splendid practice if you are with him in it.

In the little work I have done, in building, pipe-laying &c. &c. I have always found that the best way to do a thing is rarely hit upon the first time, and that after thinking over it a day or two or sometimes for a week, a new method is found which is both better & more economical. And this must be still more important in such arrangements as you will have to make involving the expenditure of many thousands. But I suppose, after carrying out a few such jobs it becomes easy to see the best way at once.

I packed up & sent off your goods in two parcels yesterday, & included for packing a shirt I found in your drawer. There are 2 very thick & nearly new flannel vests [3] (knitted) that I will send if you care about having them.

As you will now probably have to wear what the Yanks call "boiled shirts" &c. every day at the office would it not be well to get some of the cellulose cuffs & collars. I wear some of these cuffs now regularly & find them very comfortable, & when soiled a good rub with soap & water makes them as good as new. Collars would be equally good if you could get them to fit you & if you have some kind of stud at the throat but they do not do with buttons.

I enclose a letter for Mr. Davies which need not be returned.¹ He asked me for my signature to help preserve the Godalming old Market Place, so when I writing I told him about your Roman finds which you see much interest him.

[4] I send you on Spinks, which I opened by mistake. I begin to fear we shall not get The Grange, since no one besides Mr. Swinton seems able to advance any money! The owner says he has refused £14,000; and if it cannot be got I feel sure I shall never get another ^chance so good on the whole. Mr. Carter was here on Sunday. He says it is much too dear for him, as it would take too long to dispose of it all. But he will go and see it as it is so near London, & will let me know what he thinks. He says it seems exactly suited to us, and that it wants a builder with large capital, who would build some houses on the road-frontage & make an immediate profit out of them. Perhaps you may know some builder in or near London I could write to. Enquire of your boss. Write soon with more about your work.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]