| ||||||
OCR Rendition - approximate
Characterisation, especially by Letters 563 I await with no ordinary anxiety. Another is that I have received a German translation of my Eugenics papers, printed in a first class periodical, which reads and looks extremely well. My Resemblance " dodge may turn out very useful in inquiries bearing on Eugenics, for it measures among other things family likenesses, racial likenesses, etc., and is especially adapted to measure those between composite photographs, respectively representing the features of different races. But it has to be criticised, well tried, and then developed. You will have received one picture card from Eva. We are collecting them by degrees, but are far from the parts you are likely to go to. Argeles sounds promising. So Edward and M. L. go on March 1 for a five weeks' cruise. It is sad for Guy not to be with them. But it is rather a blowy and cold time of the year, for Constantinople especially. Still they are sure to have many delightful days and to see delightful places. I wonder if we shall by chance return via the Simplon tunnel when the time comes. I know it is open, but do not know when trains will run. It is however a good deal out of our way. The King of Spain has driven frequently in his motor through St Jean de Luz, waving his handkerchief and looking very happy, as a friend who walked over from there this afternoon told us. Ever very affectionately, FRANCIS GALTON. [In Evelyne Biggs' handwriting.] This is a duck of a place, so very simple and picturesque, and St Jean de Luz being four miles off one can go there for books, shops, etc. The Basque churches are beautiful, quite unique, and the people are very devout, the church here being quite full at every service; every man and boy seem to go. I believe this would be quite cheap in the summer but I will inquire here and at Sarre and all the little places ; Argeles would be dear I am sure. How very sad that Guy can't go with the Whelers. I do call it the most disappointing thing. They would all have enjoyed it so. Much love to all from E. BIGGS. HOTEL DE LA RHUNE, ASCAIN, BASSES PYRL-NEES, FRANCE. February 9, 1906. MY DEAR EDWARD, We are staying on at this cosy picturesque inn, for the weather has been too bad of late for gadding about, so the above continues to be my address. Thank you much about the things that you have offered me. I endorse the list with a "yes" in pencil on those I would gladly have, my Father's portrait especially. Few relatives now living recollect him, none as I do. The trifles about my own early life I should be glad to keep, with a few others of the same quality that I possess already. When you return, the garden and trees will have begun to be green, and you will appreciate the result of the clearings and improvements. I am so glad you are going, but it will not be all fair weather. If, when you are at Porto Empedocle, a party is made to go to the town and cathedral of Girgenti, do go with them and manage to hear the wonderful acoustic properties of the building. You sit at A where the confessional used to stand (before these properties were discovered) and the slightest whispers are heard by a man at B who stands in a gallery hidden by a perforated O -B screen of wood and who repeats them. Eva and I sat on the same bench placed for the purpose. She whispered numerals "venti tre," etc., so low that I myself, through my deafness, could not properly hear them, and back came the loud repetition from the man at B. The feature of this hotel is a pet wild boar, 10 months old, with formidable tusks already. He is kept in a pen and allowed an occasional run and frolic with friendly dogs. It is very funny to watch his short gallops, sudden stops and twists, but above all to see the instinctive way in which he twists his head as though to strike upwards with his tusk. I don't feel quite easy when the animal runs to or past me, for he is as high as my knee and could do mischief. 71-2 ii x -100 yards -•
|