WCP590

[1]

"Whitworth"

Padstow

N. Cornwall¹

Dear Dr. Wallace,

May I add my word of hearty congratulations to the hundreds you will have received this week & although it is long since I saw you or wrote, you will not have forgotten me altogether. I know I sincerely hope that you may have health & strength for many years yet the able [1 word illeg.] to enjoy life and to continue your work of spurring on the younger generation to all sort[s] of Reform.

I will only say a word about myself but what word should [I] like to say. Soon after I last saw you I had a lot of trouble—which seemed as if it would never end—with relatives & soon which abandoned all my energies. Out last I rather broke down in health.

[2] (Beyond my living), [I] went abroad for a year & then settled down to a simple life here on this splendid N. Cromwell coast; having bought a small piece of land & built myself a sort of "Bungalow House." Here, with my wife, I cultivate my garden, live on a vegetarian diet & seem to be renewing my youth. Finding my health quite restored, better indeed than it has been for many years, I have buckled on my armour[sic] & had a tell[?] at the Landlords of Padstow[?]. I dare say you saw some articles in "The Daily News & L" Daily in Sep. last[?] on the condition of Padstow[?] in the matter of hours accommodation. I started that by getting W. Harold Spender one to respect[?] (to) write the first article. I am following the [3] thing in[?] hopes to get something done but the people are so damn afraid of being evicted if they say or do anything to [1 word illeg.] the level "Powers[?] [1 word illeg.] Be that I have to move with caution I hardly done enter a poor man’s house in Padstow[?] now. For his sake!

What do you think of this case? The district hence[?] attended a woman in confinement last month. The family consisted of husband, wife and five children, ages 7 downward—They had one bedroom between them. The night of the confinement three children slept together in a small bed in the same room with the woman; the 2 older[?] boys slept on chairs by the kitchen [1 word illeg.] & the father, who was suffering from [1 word illeg.], slept on the kitchen table! Next day the [4] were found the man, much worse, in the small bed in the wife’s room & the children—well, I don’t know what because of them. The place is frightfully overcrowded, while all around fields, not a quarter cultivated, stretch for miles & miles; good land too, which would support & afford room & work for hundreds of families. Here & there a farm house; more rarely still a cottage—that is all. Yes! We need more unrest & turmoil; lots more; more agitation & discontent.

I too rejoiced in the Railway strike & even more in the recent "Knot" Strike. I thought that [1 word illeg.]. "One comrade is wronged; leaders a no leader, [1 word illeg.] a no illusion— Down Tools [un]til he’s sighted[?]".

[5] I felt proud of these men. So long as we have thousands of men who will spontaneously & at once, face the risk of starvation in defence[sic] of a comrade who they think has been wronged [then] there is not much to fear. I wish the poor down-trodden, dispirited labourers[sic] in the agricultural district had a little of that spirit.

But now I must not take at more of your time. Pray forgive my long silence. Have felt I had not much to say that would be of any interest to you, until lately, & that you had plenty to do without having to read letters of no interest. However, now, I feel you will be interested in hearing of what is going on down here & of what we (my wife keener then I!) are anything to do: so I hope you will not find this letter the last straw among the piles you will receive: and with (once more) heartiest congratulations & best wishes.

[the following original text is written on the left margin of the page 6] We are in a radical conspiracy which is not well represented by its [1 word illeg.]: [2 words illeg.], son of Lord [1 word illeg.]; a Whiggish young man. His [1 word illeg.] we may try a labour[?] man next time.

Always yours sincerely | Arnold D. Taylor [signature]

[6]

Rec^d Arnold

Taylor

Padstow