WCP3297

[1]¹

Angmering

Sussex

16 Jan 1911

To Dr Alfred Russel Wallace

Dear Dr Wallace

Ordinary everyday language quite failed to express my unbounded surprise & pleasure this morning. Never before have I received so much in return for so little.

I had just finished breakfast & was about to shift a heap of garden mould, but earth & everything else had to go. I [2] assembled the "house" & read 60 pages aloud, & my wife & daughter, as well as myself have had a glorious morning.

To say the absolute truth it was with extreme diffidence that I made the booklet an excuse for asking yourself & Mr Blatchford² for a postcard autograph, because I believe you are both men, beyond any living men, who have, & eventually will, greatly benefit humanity. (Many make plenty of noise of course.) I hardly expected a reply. But Mr Blatchford sent me an unexpectedly kind letter, and you have done the [3] same, in addition to a most gloriously welcome Life³ of yourself.

I am just half your age (44) but I remember, vividly, crying heartily over the loss of your Amazon collection & even more I often wonder that you seemed to bear the loss so apparently easy. I am almost ashamed to say that this incident still affects me. I think the reason is that your beautifully easy style of writing suits me, & the incidents seem more real in your books. Again I own, & love, my books. & I have been waiting for a cheaper "Life" in [4] preference to borrowing from libraries. So you will believe me when I say that these books, signed by yourself, is by far, the greates real gift, & one that gives me the greatest pleasure, that I have ever received. My brothers will be as delighted as I am.

I am glad I wrote that little book. I only printed 350 copies. I ought to have had more but it surprised me that so many neighbouring people were interested.

I should dearly like to see you. I came to wimborne during my annual cycle tour, but I dared not call. But I shall have more confidence in future. I shall write once more to tell you how I like the "Life". With the greatest respect

I am | E A Harris