An attempt at photographing a spirit
Full transcription
Parkstone, Dorset.
June 29th. 1895
My dear Annie
I had your letter this morning from Grindenwald & am very glad you have enjoyed yourselves & seen some good flowers at last. As you say nothing about it I suppose you did not get any live plants or ferns. I am getting things ready for our journey. See that your pa has his strongest walking shoes well nailed or I will not be responsible for him. Please bring with you a guide book Bessie has & ask your Pa if I may cut out of it any maps that are better than those I have. I am arranging the small kettle & lamp in a strong card <book> box for our use. I have had George Silk with me for a week. He left this morning. As you like Meiringen so much we may stay there a night or two & then perhaps walk over the Scheideck to Grindenwald staying a night at Rosenlain on the way. Did you walk up from Grindenwald to the Great Sheideck? It is nearly 3000 feet higher, & I should have thought far too much for you unless the mountain air invigorated you. I have arranged with Dr. Allman's gardener to come every evening & water the orchids. We have at last had a fine rain, all night, & the garden begins to look proud. I had a visit from Mr. Comerford Casey & his daughter (two of whom came with the Bournemouth Botanists) He is a very nice man was at Nice during the great Earthquake is very fond of plants, and, although a parson, is quite open minded, & even a Socialist! He is a great invalid & may come to Parkstone but fears it is not bracing enough. I have also, yesterday, had a visit from the young student of Spiritualism & his wife, a very pretty woman who went off into a trance, & after being first a weepy lady, then a nigger-woman, afterwards was my mother, & would hold my hand very tight while I was being photographed & said she would try to appear! Perhaps
[written vertically on the left hand side of the page]
we shall see something! Your affectionate
[signed] Alfred
June 29th. 1895
My dear Annie
I had your letter this morning from Grindenwald & am very glad you have enjoyed yourselves & seen some good flowers at last. As you say nothing about it I suppose you did not get any live plants or ferns. I am getting things ready for our journey. See that your pa has his strongest walking shoes well nailed or I will not be responsible for him. Please bring with you a guide book Bessie has & ask your Pa if I may cut out of it any maps that are better than those I have. I am arranging the small kettle & lamp in a strong card <book> box for our use. I have had George Silk with me for a week. He left this morning. As you like Meiringen so much we may stay there a night or two & then perhaps walk over the Scheideck to Grindenwald staying a night at Rosenlain on the way. Did you walk up from Grindenwald to the Great Sheideck? It is nearly 3000 feet higher, & I should have thought far too much for you unless the mountain air invigorated you. I have arranged with Dr. Allman's gardener to come every evening & water the orchids. We have at last had a fine rain, all night, & the garden begins to look proud. I had a visit from Mr. Comerford Casey & his daughter (two of whom came with the Bournemouth Botanists) He is a very nice man was at Nice during the great Earthquake is very fond of plants, and, although a parson, is quite open minded, & even a Socialist! He is a great invalid & may come to Parkstone but fears it is not bracing enough. I have also, yesterday, had a visit from the young student of Spiritualism & his wife, a very pretty woman who went off into a trance, & after being first a weepy lady, then a nigger-woman, afterwards was my mother, & would hold my hand very tight while I was being photographed & said she would try to appear! Perhaps
[written vertically on the left hand side of the page]
we shall see something! Your affectionate
[signed] Alfred
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