Written in purple ink.
Written from '"Ch. Ch.", Carroll's abbreviation for Christ Church.
This item is part of the Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., Lewis Carroll collection. The large collection includes printed books, letters, manuscripts, puzzles and games, personal effects and ephemera, which have been cataloged separately.
The letter is signed C. L. Dodgson. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson adopted the pseudonym "Lewis Carroll" in 1856 when publishing a poem in "The Train." He used the pseudonym when publishing Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and other works, but wrote under his given name, Charles Dodgson, when publishing mathematical works and in daily life. For administrative purposes, all manuscripts are collated under the name Lewis Carroll.
Previously accessioned as AAH 491.
Expressing his deep gratitude for the elocution lessons she is giving Isa Bowman, saying that when he asked for names of elocution teachers he never expected her to give Isa lessons herself; discussing, at length, the differences between a selfish and unselfish man; saying "And so you have found out that secret - one of the deep secrets of Life - that all, that is really worth the doing, is what we do for others?...I say 'it is not selfishness, that my own pleasure should be a motive so long as it is not the motive that would outweigh the other, if the two came into collision. The 'selfish man' is he would still do the thing, even if it harmed others, so long as it gave him pleasure : the 'unselfish man' is he who would still do the thing, even if it gave him no pleasure, so long as it pleased others. But, when both motives pull together, the 'unselfish man' is still the unselfish man, even though his own pleasure is one of his motives !... And so in your case, dear friend; I believe that it is real joy to you to know that you are filling, full to overflowing, Isa's little cup of happiness; and yet there is no shadow of selfishness in what you are doing, but that it is pure, unadulterated, generous kindness;" adding that he has been ill "...with an anguish attack" but hopes to call when he is next in town; asking if she received the copy of "Sylvie and Bruno" he sent her in December 1889 and telling her that if she had not received it he would send another copy "... as I want you to have the book."