5:30 P.M. Good half hour with W. He was not very cheery—I soon learned why. "I have a letter today—from London—not from Doctor. Doctor is sick and his girl writes the letter. He is sick in bed—dictates this—has rheumatism and cold—that is the way he states it. I confess it alarmed me—I do not like it—yet he is cheery enough, too: says it will only be a matter of a day or two, but"—shaking his head—"I do not know, I am afraid Doctor is in for more of it than he thinks." And then: "I learn in every way how incautious he is—how little he measures the physical situation. Having a noble physique—noble parts, health, mind, body, physiological—he thinks he can dare anything, but who can? No body, no mind, can outlast every strain. Doctor—his vehement nature—drives him heavily into his enthusiasms. It is a great spectacle, but isn't it expensive? The Asylum, the meter, half a dozen other irons—they press him on and on, to what?" And further: "The mere evidence of his daughter—that he only writes through her—shows a surrender. O Doctor, Doctor, will you only learn it too late!" Had written Bucke, gave me the letter to mail, along with papers for Captain Rayner and Gilchrist, postal for George's wife, a letter containing check for Morristown people.
I told him amusedly of Stedman's remark: "You know I am a Socialist—have an interest in Howland's colony in Mexico. Howland is just dead." W. said, "Yes, Howland is just dead. I get their paper here regularly, I think. But I think the head and front of the colony is Mary Howland—I know her. But I did not know Stedman had any interest—spiritual or other—in the experiment. Do you know, Horace, I think Talcott Williams has a suspicion of an inclination that way, too. Did you ever get a hint of it from him?"
Referred tenderly to death of Bradlaugh and Meissonier. I had letter from Truth Seeker people. McKay had only offered them 20 percent on six-dollar book. Would we not do better? W. assented. I would send bill for four dollars adding 40 cents postage and W. would ship book west (Minier, Ills.) tomorrow. I suggested he should write a letter to Stoddart on pamphlet matter. Would do so.