WCP551

[1]

[in ARW’s hand] Answd

39 1/2 Washington Square West¹

New York City

January 6, 1913

Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, O. M.

Old Orchard, Broadstone, Wimborne

Dorset, England.

Dear Sir:

I have read with much interest in The New York Times your interview recently given in The London Daily News.²

Your remarks about the "average of mankind" have particularly appealed to me because I have been endeavouring to interest our newspapers in "natural selection." That is, I wish to have the editors write leaders on this subject and publish articles of a popular nature that will appeal to the masses of people in our country. Of course, we have scientific articles on Eugenics, but my wish was to impress upon the "average man" and woman the importance of the human race and the fact that in order to improve conditions we must improve the race.

As a worker among the poorer classes of people, and after closely observing the many, many thousands of immigrants reaching our shores every year, after going over the statistics of our prisons, insane asylums, institutions for imbeciles, epileptics, paupers and orphans, — the figures are appalling and alarming — I find every institution is crowded to its utmost and the burden falls upon tax-payers who are unable or do not know how to mitigate this evil. Our social workers, charity organisations, and churches do not get to the root of this trouble.

A gentleman in your high position and speaking with authority can indeed do much toward making people think. Can you not give further "talks" along these lines and stir up a widespread interest among Eugenists both in England and the United States.

With congratulations and hearty good wishes on the occasion of your ninetieth birthday, I beg to remain, dear Doctor Wallace, a worker in the ranks who appreciates the wisdom of your remarks about the world to-day.

Respectfully yours, (Miss) Wenona Marlin³ [signature]

[in ARW’s hand] 90th