My dear Miss Norris,—­I am very sorry to hear that your father is so poorly.  The weather is terribly gloomy, and I have not been outside my rooms and greenhouse for more than an hour a week perhaps, for the last two months, and feel the better for it.  Just now I feel better than I have done for a year past, having at last, I think, hit upon a proper diet, though I find it very difficult to avoid eating or drinking too much of what I like best....  It is one of my fads that I hate to waste anything, and it is that partly which makes it so difficult for me to avoid overeating.  From a boy I was taught to leave no scraps on my plate, and from this excellent general rule of conduct I now suffer in my old age!...—­Yours very sincerely,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

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TO DR. LITTLEDALE

Old Orchard, Broadstone, Dorset.  January 11, 1913.

Dear Dr. Littledale,—­Many thanks for your kind congratulations and good wishes.[47] I am glad to say I feel still able to jog on a few years longer in this very good world—­for those who can make the best of it.

I am now suffering most from “eczema,” which has settled in my legs, so that I cannot stand or walk for any length of time.  Perhaps that is an outlet for something worse, as I still enjoy my meals, and usually feel as well as ever, though I have to be very careful as to what I eat.—­With best wishes for your prosperity, yours very truly,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

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TO DR. NORRIS

Old Orchard, Broadstone, Dorset.  October 4, 1913.

My dear Dr. Norris,—­Except for a continuous weakness I seem improving a little in general health, and the chronic rheumatic pain in my right shoulder has almost passed away in the last month (after about three years), and I can impute it to nothing but about a quarter of a pint a day of Bulmer’s Cider!  A most agreeable medicine!  The irritability of the skin, however, continues, though the inflammation of the legs has somewhat diminished....

My increasing weakness is now my most serious trouble, as it prevents me really from doing any more work, and causes a large want of balance, and liability to fall down.  Even moving about the room after books, etc., dressing and undressing, make me want to lie down and rest....

With kind remembrances to your daughter, believe me yours very sincerely,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

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In disposition Dr. Wallace was cheerful, and very optimistic, and remarkably even-tempered.  If irritated he quickly recovered, and soon forgot all about the annoyance, but he was always strongly indignant at any injustice to the weak or helpless.  When worried by business difficulties or losses he very soon recovered his optimism, and seemed quite confident that all would come right (as indeed it generally did), and latterly he became convinced that all his past troubles were really blessings in disguise, without which as a stimulant he would have done no useful work.