WCP334

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Oct^r. 11th. 1891

My dear Violet¹

Grandpa² & Grandma³ returned home yesterday, after a very wet visit, but we had a few pretty fair excursions. I send you Zoo. tickets for next two Sundays as Ma⁴ said something about your wanting them.

We have had a dreadful tragedy here. Mrs. Monk (our gardeners wife) woke up in the night and found her baby — 2 months old — uncovered and cold. She thought it was dead [2] and told Monk to go for the doctor instantly — he went, & while he was gone she rushed out of the house, & threw herself into the waterworks tank (I believe) and drowned herself. He was wandering about all night almost before he found her, quite dead, but the baby was alive & well, being asleep all the time! There was ^an inquest on Friday & she is to be buried tomorrow — Monday. [3] She was unwell & must have been out of her mind, not even to wait for the doctor!

Was the book I gave you last year, M'Alpines Biological Atlas? And would the Zoological Atlas

Vertebrates — 24 Plates

Invertebrates 16 plates

by the same man be useful to you. Let me know.

I have heard from the Ed.⁵ of "Arena" — He likes my paper⁶ & has sent me £.20 for it, & I expect proofs soon. I have written another article on "American flowers & forests"⁷ [4] for Harris,⁸ which I suppose will appear in next "Fortnightly". — No more S. Africa in this months, but an almost equally good one on Australia by Francis Adams,⁹ — also a terrible one on Russia.

I hope the Nat. Hist. lectures to the Students is not too hard work for you. If it is give it up, as the most important this year is to pass your exams. well. Ma seems to have enjoyed herself pretty well in London

Your affectionate Papa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]