WCP3222

[1]

Parkstone Heights, Dorset.

June 25 1904

Dear Dr Wallace

Last night, I finished reading out to my wife¹ your delightful book "Man's Place in the Universe",² and, although I have no doubt you are quite tired of receiving criticisms & praises of y[ou]r work. I cannot resist the pleasure of telling you how much we have admired & enjoyed it.

Your truly[?] aesopian[?]³ [2] plan, the skilful strategy with which you have marshalled y[ou]r armies of facts; and the invincible way in which you have concentrated them upon a triumphant[?] conclusion, are beyond all praise.

We were not unacquainted with the subject, having Booker[?]⁴ & other works in our library, & having kept fairly well "read up" in both the geology & the astronomy of the subject. But the lucid & plain way in which y[ou]r work is written[3] helps[?] make it understandable to even those people[?] unacquainted with the matters.

As we socially[?] [one word illeg] agree in believing that "intelligent way" in the vac," I enclose a little, very immature, contribution of mine to the subject⁵ — presented for private circulation some years ago — I sent you a copy at the time but it miscarried.

I should have [one word illeg] the great pleasure of expressing my admiration, for this & your other works, to you in person, [4] but that advancing age & defects of health have obliged me of late rigorously to abstain: from either paying or receiving visits; (except for our children & numerous[?] grandchildren). Pray therefore, pardon my inflicting this work upon you.

With every good wish | I am y[ou]rs truly

Horace Dobell [signature]

A.R. Wallace Esq.