WCP3234

[1]

Parkstone,

Dorset

August 9 1901.

Thanks for the sketch of "William Morris, his life and work". It is very well done and shows what a remarkable man Morris was. But the writer shows, I think great prejudice at p. 14, in his absurd remarks on Bellamy's work, which I expect he really never read. To my mind "Looking Backwards" is a better story than "News from Nowhere", and gives a sketch of a far truer and more practicable, and also more enjoyable socialistic regime than that sketched by Morris. I find that most of the people who speak of it as Mr Mackail¹ does have never read it through! It demonstrated to me the practicability of Socialism, while in its sequel and conclusion,— "Equality",— the whole theory of Socialism is worked out, and a mode of bringing it about indicated, which would quite accord with Morris' great maxim, by "making socialists" in consequence of the visible material advantages of its action when partially at work.

a lecture by J. W. Mackail.^2,2

[2] letter of Aug 9 1901 contd

with your letter came one from a friend here to whom I had lent Mr Blunt's "Times" letter "The Shame of the 19th Century", asking how he can get some to [illeg.] give away. Is it for sale? or if not can you send me a dozen copies for distribution. I greatly enjoyed Mr Blunt's visit — I hope he will not forget to obtain the details about the one-armed boy. His letter about the Fox-hunting which I have cut from the Daily News, is admirable.

A long letter addressed to the Times at the end of 1900 — not inserted in that paper but printed in pamphlet form by WSB.³