WCP81

[1]

Broadstone, Wimbourne.

Sept^r. 23rd. 1903

My dear Will¹

Your last letter was interesting, but some further details should be still more so. I should like to know for, instance, who was in your place before, & why he left. Also how many men in the Office are under you, whether they are articled pupils or engineers &c. Also how the Manager introduced you, & did he tell each man in the Engineering department that he was to take orders from you. If so I cannot understand any one [MS torn and text missing at the bottom of page 1] ² cycle is all right & your coat was sent immediately [2] to complain of you unless you did something very outrageous, which of course you did not. What was it, he complained of? Do give us a little narrative of all that occurred in the Office up to that incident, as I am sure it will be very interesting & perhaps amusing, while it will certainly enable us to form a more correct idea of your exact position, its difficulties & responsibilities, then we are yet able to do. [MS torn and text missing at the bottom of page 2] [3] amusing to read about but rather trying to the patient listener.

This morning I had a note from J. W. Marshall asking if we can give him the Christian name of H. F. Ruttlidge, and old Carthusian which they want for a register! Only fancy not having a boys full name in any of their books. Ma³ & Violet⁴ remember that he was at Jaby Marshalls with you. Perhaps you can remember his name. They also want his address & profession, so I suppose his parents are dead.

Yesterday I was refreshing myself with reading the Bounder’s [4] inimitable article ^papers in the last "Clarion"⁵. — & then took down The Bounder’s Book,⁶ & found in an obituary article that I had put in it, the statement that he was buried at Withington, Manchester, in the Cemetery I suppose, as he was a Rom. Catholic (or his family).

I have had a bricklayer & labourer 2 days doing a good job — making drains all round the cellar to take away whatever water soaks in ; and ^an opening under the middle of my bedroom window in the West verandah, with a grating 2 ft. & 1’ 3" to let light and air into the cellar, which was badly wanted.

I have also put up framework 18 feet square ^{at top of garden} for wire netting to enclose a currant & gooseberry garden.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

To⁷ day is one of the hottest of the year!