WCP3377

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming

March 12th. 1889

Dear Mr. Macmillan¹

Thanks for your letter.² As to the cut edges I know Darwin³ insisted on it, and every edition of his books published during his life were cut, as he sent me them all. Even his large Animals & Plants⁴ are cut. Most of the scientific ^books published in America are so; ^{all I have are.} — Sir C. Lyell's⁵"Elements"⁶ are so — I think it a pure whim & imagination on the part of publisher that cut edges look common. When the edges of an uncut book get dusty it does look common! [2] "The useful is always the beautiful" — is a good maxim here or elsewhere. As showing the feeling of readers, only a few weeks ago in a review of a scientific book in "Nature" one of the defects noticed was that it was issued with uncut edges! I therefore (if you allow me to do so) do insist on having the edges cut, as I know I shall thereby obtain the gratitude [3] of all the readers of my book even if you despise my bad taste.

Believe me | yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Fredk Macmillan Esq.