Characterisation, especially by Letters 587 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. September 27, 1908. 

 Dearest Milly, This is a prompt answer; Ravenscourt seems quite a success. Enclosed 

 is one of the prospectuses of my book, which I hope may he published next Saturday. A small 

 misunderstanding of the printer threw it hack for a while. Adele Bree is rapidly getting well 

 and has no dread, I believe. The removal was an easy matter, though the healing was prolonged. 

 — So you have to do with one of the "Feeble-Minded" of whom so much has been brought to 

 light by the Royal Commission. In these border-line eases it is most difficult to know how to act. 

 I know the Porlock Hill, perhaps it was then not quite so steep as you drew it, but was perilous- 

 looking, and there were beautiful views. Motors are certainly great comforts, and bring far-off 

 places neai- to one. The London taxi-cabs have a rare time of it in the afternoons; every one 

 of them in the neighbouring stand being always taken. Eva is off to-day to Malvern to stay with 

 Mrs Keir Moilliet and to bicycle on Monday to Lewis M's. She returns on Tuesday. Give my 

 love to all of yours. You will be a large party now, if Guy has returned from Exeter. I am 

 about now to be trundled in my sister Bessy's bath-chair into the park, which I find very 

 pleasant. Sometimes Mrs Simmonds, sometimes Gifi, pushes it, and I have lost all sense of 

 oddity in the matter and enjoy it without drawback. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. October 10, 1908. 



Dearest Milly, You are indeed enthusiastic. The book seems successful, as a second 

 edition of it is being printed ; but I find that the first edition was only 750 copies. Still, it 

 shows that the book has already paid its way, and my publisher writes prettily and congratula- 

 torily (is there such a word?). 



The idea of your troubling to join the Eugenics Education Society ! I never meant to cajole 

 you into it. Still, it is not a bad thing to do, and a few of us are taking pains about it. I shall 

 understand "the ropes" better after next Wednesday's meeting The absurd part of it is that 

 the proper President of it, Sir .lames Crichton-Browne, has wholly absented himself for ever so 

 long, and won't answer the letters of the Secretary to him. It was this that obliged me to take 

 the lead, which I did not at all want to do. It is a funny thing that none of us can comprehend; 

 Sir J.C.-B. is quite a pleasant man and seemed originally keen for the work. Personally I like him 

 much. I [e sent much of value to Charles Darwin, who appreciated it. It did seem extraordinary 

 in those far back days, that Crichton-Browne, then quite a young man and looking still younger, 

 should have the control and mastery over the biggest lunatic asylum in England. He looked 

 more like a man whom the hostess of a ball would introduce to partners lest he should be too 

 diffident to ask them. Your gardening must be a great pleasure and matters of storage room 

 must be difficult to solve. The Gibbons have built a cheap studio by their cottage. I sent them 

 a perambulator and now the poor child is dead ! How they will hate the sight of the little 

 carriage ! \ pity them much. Best loves. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. October 17, 1908. 



Dearest MlLLY, It would be amusing if the next year's camp in the neighbourhood of 

 Dorchester should be placed on "Galton Heath." There is a wide extent of open land there 

 and the high Downs are within marching distance. But how the midges bit me there, one 

 Bummer ! You must be full of gardening and hopes of Howers in the Spring; I now see flowers 

 in shop windows here, that is all. My book is well reviewed thus far by most of the leading 

 papers, but not yet by the Times, who kindly gave half a column to my paper at the Eugenics 

 Education Society. It will be printed in full in the next (?) Nature, for they have sent it in proof 

 to me to correct. You shall have a copy when it comes out. I contrived to read it myself and 

 got through it creditably to a rather large audience, but was tired and bronchitic in consequence. 

 All right now. Next Monday (to-morrow) week, 26th, we go to "The Meadows, Brockham Green, 

 Dorking," so I shall get here your usual Friday letter, but thenceforward the address will be as 

 above. How I hate the thoughts of the coming winter. Era went yesterday to see Mrs Gibbon, 

 who is very sad. My old friend, Lady Pelly, has just undergone a very serious operation, I know 

 not what. She is doing fairly well. 



I had to break off, owing to the earlier-than-expected arrival of a Bordighera friend, 

 .Mr Bicknell, to stay with us. Such an interesting man. He is the scientific and literary soul of 

 Bordighera and a good botanist and artist. He gave a small museum with a good sized meeting 



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