Characterisation, esj>ecially by Letters 



573 



persons of high social rank seems an expression of a conscious want of the polish that those 

 have acquired and that they have not. If so, it is a pardonable feature, so far. I am glad you 

 recall the zinc figure in the garden at Royat. It has left a deep impression on myself, not 

 unlike that of Millet's "Angelus" — very sad, very brave, very noble. I had no idea that one 

 of your sons had the honour of having played hockey with the present Queen of Spain ! A lady 

 who was here had joined in eating a bun with her, some years ago, at a pastry cook's. What 

 a deal she has gone through already. Among the minor Spanish events is, I see, a resignation of 

 the Premier, followed by a reconstituted cabinet. I am getting straight again and have driven out 

 the last three days, and to-morrow we go for the week-end to friends at Haslemere. Next week 

 I (and Gifi) go for three or four nights to Oxford, to the Arthur Butlers, which I think can be 

 now safely effected. It is always such a great pleasure to see him. I am pitching into " Eugenics " 

 again, seriously discussing the possibility and advisability of offering certificates, that must be 

 trustworthy in reality as well as in popular appreciation, and that must be inexpensive and 

 yet self-supporting. Though the thing is full of difficulty, I now think I see my way, so have 

 just sent a paper to be typed, and to be submitted to a few critical friends before taking the 

 next step. Lucy Studdy is in town and dines here to-night. Her embroidery won two prizes at 

 a recent exhibition at Oxford. If you come across a Pyrenean sun-dial, such as the shepherds 



VL4 



always carried with them, I wish you would invest in one for me. They can hardly cost more 

 than 1 franc. I gave mine to the Pitt-Rivers Museum. The principle is to find the time by 

 the altitude of the sun at any given season. The head of the dial is turned to the right place 

 (month and day). The gnomon sticks out and casts a shadow. The cylinder is marked with 

 proper curves, and is dangled at the end of a string, and the hour is read off. I have drawn 

 the top badly here. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. June 16, 1906. 



Dearest Millv, Your letter is very interesting, but I grieve at Edward's rheumatism. 

 We have had three cold and rheumatic days here but the bad spell seems just over. Thank you 

 much about the Shepherd's sun-dials. The rougher and more everyday order that they are of 

 the better. I will even ask you to get me two of them. I had neat box-wood ones made for 

 me in England some fifty years ago, and I calculated the curves, and had them cut in them, for 

 the latitude of London, but I liked the rough native ones better as objects of interest. I hope 

 yon may come across Count Russell after all. Amy is well out of Montauban hospitality. 

 Your account of her reminded me vaguely of Vathek, who, absolute and incomparably learned 

 monarch that he was, was so upset by his inability to decipher the magical letters on the 

 Bword given him by the magician, that of the 163 dishes presented to him at dinner he had 

 so lost appetite as to l>e only able to taste 35 ! 



We had a most successful week-end visit last Sunday, when I was well "molly-coddled" 

 under the surveillance of Eva, and three other nights at Oxford with the Arthur Butlers — all 

 most pleasant. George G. Butler (whom you know) and his boy are with us now. They all go to 

 the theatre to-night, with others who dine here. I shall smoke the cigarette of peace and quiet 

 in great comfort at home. Fred's account of the Chinese would have been most welcome to the 

 Unionist newspapers a few days ago, but after Mr Churchill's confession on the part of the 

 Government that only twelve Chinese in all had asked to be repatriated, the case is closed. 



