WCP416

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

August 9th. 1896

My dear Annie

I was very glad to have Violet’s¹ card and your letter telling me that you have all arrived safely and that Adelboden is all that it should be. I have been trying to get things straight in garden & orchid house since Will² left, and the last 2 days have been coaching Kate in Orchid Culture which she seems to understand very well. To add to my troubles however I had a letter a few days back announcing a box of orchids from Singapore! ^which are expected to arrive in a week. So I have had to tell Kate how to treat these unfortunate infants [2] and to be sure to wash them quite clean & then put them to bed till I return by which time I hope they will have recovered the effects of the voyage.

I have had my tickets — of very superior quality to the Polytechnic — in a beautiful blue leather case, containing gorgeous luggage labels and among other documents a list of the party going. Seven others are going first class — 3 gentlemen & 4 ladies. Among them is Mr. Le Gallienne³, a minor poet, & I think a Socialist, so we shall no doubt get on. He lectures the evening before me on the [3] absurd topic — "The Persecutions of Beauty" — and that is in the scientific department!

Shaw Brothers have sent in a bill for bacon — July 9th. — Did you, I wonder, send the order without the 1/6 Postal Order? I think I told Violet that my address will be Hotel Victoria Davos Platz. I fear it will be an awful place, as there are, according to my Guide Book, 15 large Hotels and no ends of Pensions & furnished villas. It must be a perfect city. So I shall be glad to escape as soon as may be to the rural seclusion of Adelboden.

Yours very affectionately | Alfred [signature]