WCP4849

[1]¹

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Dorset.

April 24th. 1913

Dear Mr. Markham

I am much pleased and interested to hear of your great work on the writings of T. L. Harris.

I have myself read nothing but his poems, especially his "Lyric of the Golden Age", which I obtained nearly 20 years ago, and from which I took "mottoes" for several of my chapters in the 1st. ed. of my Wonderful Century. This poem contains some of the finest philosophical and moral teaching and the versification & [2] and rhythm are often magnificent. He is the one poet who in the harmonious and expressive use of words and nobility of ideas equals and sometimes even equals surpasses Shakespeare. I have since obtained his "Epic of the Starry Heavens", "Lyric of the Morning Land", "The Great Republic", and "Regina"-all full of the most exquisite verse and original ideas and teachings.

I have been much interested in finding that I have arrived independently at some conclusions he had already stated in these poems-especially that of diversity, as one of the great [3] purposes of the [illeg] Universe both material and mental. But in other cases he, like Swedenburgh [sic], appears to be opposed to my conclusions as to the non-habita^bility of any other planet of the Solar System ^{than our earth} by human beings, but that I think is because he ^did not clearly distinguish between men and spirits.

I shall be greatly interested to see how you treat so vast a subject. I have not found time to read half the books I have.

I now send you my last book dealing, very briefly, with a great subject-"Moral Progress"².

One of the teachings of Spiritualism which Harris enforces, and which the churches ignore is the perpetuity [4] the refined part of the sexual relation-especially the unity of the two as complimentary, forming the one perfect being.

I must ask you to excuse me from writing anything as an introduction to the new edition of your poems. Not only do I know nothing of "Poetry" as an art or a science-but I am now a chronic invalid, and cannot keep up with my ever- increasing correspondence; & the little strength I have left I must preserve to in order to try and complete a "Social"³book I am now engaged on.

Believe me | Yours very sincerely & admiringly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]