WCP527

Letter (WCP527.527)

[1]1

Angmering

Sussex

Oct[ober]. 20 1912

To

Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace O.M.

Dear Sir

I ordered Messrs Dent & sons new journal "Everyman" because it contains your reply in full to Dr. Schäfer,2, 3 as well as your portrait.

Although there are a thousand reasons, great & small, why I hesitate [2] to write to you, yet in spite of them all I am determined to express my humble satisfaction, and to offer you my sincerest congratulations on your reply.

It is to my mind quite impossible to conceive anything more complete and more convincing. And the splendidly easy flow of words, exactly like conversation, is most admirable.

I never have read anywhere such easy and [3] pleasant writing. What would be to all other writers most intricate & difficult to explain you make beautifully smooth & clear.

And I am so glad that hundreds & thousands of people, more & more daily, are appreciating this.

And I certainly do my best to make them.

What a glorious thing it was that you did not get that post at Epping forest.4

Fifty years ago you had just returned from [4] Malay & was [sic] just about to commence my favourite book which pleases me now as well as it did 20 years ago.

The portrait in Everyman is dated 1904. I wish it had been 1912. But the Article is marvellous and sections VI and IX absolute triumphs.

Will you Sir | Please believe me to be | Yours most sincerely | Edwin A. Harris6 [Signature]

1
Annotated in ink in the top left corner "Acknowledged"
2
Wallace, Alfred Russel. (1912). The origin of life: a reply to Dr. Schäfer. Everyman 1 (1): 5-6.
3
Schafer (born Schäfer), Edward Albert Sharpey- (1850 — 1935). English physiologist. President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science 1911 — 1912. His presidential address was on the nature and origin of life.
4
In 1878 Wallace was a candidate for the post of director of the proposed new park at Epping Forest, but was not appointed, possibly because of his intention to keep the woodland exactly as it was for future generations, allowing no restaurants, hotels, or other concessions.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP527.527)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Sarvis, Nicole Mary [2014-09-22] Transcription checked by Lucas, Paula J. [2014-09-22] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10]

Please cite as “WCP527,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP527