
I have your post card of 16th
and note what you say re constipation. Do you ever take any Friedrichshall water
now? I wish you would get some and take a wine glass or more in a tumbler of hot
water first thing in the morning 2 or 3 times a week—I think you would find
benefit from it. Thanks for the papers and especially for the "Personal memoranda"
proof which I like well. Here there is nothing but politics, the main quetsion in
the context being: Shall we or not have closer trade relations with the U.S.? It
seems a funny thing to dispute over. It is as if Michican or New York should argue:
Shall we have a protection tariff against the rest of the states so as to encourage manufacture
at home (in Mich or N.Y.) and in that way increase the population and prosperity of
the said Mich. or N.Y.? How very singular such a debate would sound and yet it would
be no different from the present one except that here we have a tariff and want to
get rid of it. Then (the funniest thing of all) many of our people dread closer
relations with the U.S. for fear of moral contamination! A sort of—"I thank
thee oh God that I am not like this publican," business. Or as the Scotchman prayed:
"Lord send us a guid conceit of ourselves!"
Two more weeks will settle the fuss for this time—Elections on 5th March.
Best love to you dear Walt R M Bucke