WCP4264

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Nov^r. 1st. 1893

Mrs. S. A. Tooley¹

Dear Madam

If you wish to see me & do not mind coming so far I shall be pleased to receive a visit from you. If however you wish to obtain my views on heredity, especially as regards the effect of modern views on human progress, you can obtain it much more easily by reading two papers of mine on the subject. One is an article on Human Selection² in the Fortnightly Review of Sept^m. 1890; the other is [2] Human Progress, Past & Future³ in The Arena (Boston) January 1892. These both deal with the question of how progress will be made without the inheritance of acquired characters, that is, without the inheritance of any effects of education on the parents, — and perhaps more rapidly and more surely than if these effects were inherited. If, after reading these papers you still wish to see me I shall be happy to give further explanation of my views, but to save time and misunderstanding it will be most important for you to read these articles first.

[3] The question— a purely scientific one— whether such characters are in fact inherited, is dealt with in two articles in the Fortnightly of April & May this year.

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