WCP54

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

June 15th. 1902

My dear Will¹

The weather here has been almost as bad as with you, and I think I never remember so continuously cold a spring & early summer. I see that at Greenwich to the end of April the hours of sunshine for the whole year were only 1/3 of what they might be, — but yet it was a dry year thus being 6 2/3 inches less than the average rain.

We get 57 1/2 p. c. discount on the Galv^d. [galvanized] Iron Tubes with 2 1/2 for cash making just 60 p. c. from Stock prices. On all the other water-fittings — baths, closets, lavatory basins [2] brass cocks &c. we get about 25 p. cent. But even at these prices our luxurious water works &c. will cost about £.50 or perhaps more. But then few houses of this size have 2 lavatories, 2 baths, &c. . with a circulating hot water supply, & everything about as good as it can be. I hope you will be able to come at the Cor. week² though I wish the house was a little more advanced. We have begun boarding the roof — then felting, then battening, then tiling — an awful complication of work but essential to comfort.

Percy has threatened to cancel order a week ago. But they declare they [3] were made & dispatched from their works at Grimsby but have gone astray on the railway & they cannot be traced! A truck-load of window frames!!

We only have about 15 feet of 1 1/2 in. pipe — about 100 feet of 1 in. 200 feet of 3/4 in. and 100 of 1/2 inch. The cold supply is all 3/4, — the hot 1 in. flow, & expansion, and the returns & short draw off pipes to Lavatories & sinks 1/2 inch. There are an awful lot of bends elbows & Tees required, as well as long screws, diminishing sockets &c.

I do not think much of the colour cure for overworked eyes. It was a special idiosyncrasy probably. It would make my [4] eyes worse.

We are all (I & Ma³) full of ideas for the Garden, raising seeds of all sorts of curiousities, striking Cuttings &c. We have had Spinach & Gooseberries from the garden, — cabbage will be ready in a week or two, then in another week or so, I hope, our first peas & beans. The water lilies in the new pond are growing nicely & I hope a flower or two may be out while you are here. Ma⁴ is very glad you will be able to come soon.

Sundays & very wet days I am doing final corrections to MSS. Of my new Ed. of W. Century⁴. All the rest of my time goes to correspondence & to Broadstone.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]