Aldwinckle, Eric, Letter, 17 August 1944

Letter, Eric Aldwinckle.
Description: 
Letter to Ruth Somers

Tabs

Case Study: 
Creative Dialogue Across the Ocean: Eric Aldwinckle’s Letters to Harry Somers
Creator: 
Aldwinckle, Eric
Source: 
letter
Date: 
17 August 1944
Place: Normandy
Collection/Fonds: 
Contributer: 
McMaster University Libraries
Rights: 
Copyright, public domain: McMaster University owns the rights to the archival copy of the digital image in TIFF format. Reproduced with the kind permission of Margaret Bridgman.

Identifier: 
00001605-2
Language: 
eng
Type: 
image
Format: 
jpg
Transcript: 

Many of these busy creatures are murdered in cold nectar, or whatever circulates through their system. Some have been eaten alive, but this inadvertently. We are not yet conscious cannibals. The flaying of arms and exhausting of breath on a hot day increases blood pressures and shortens the life. In short it is agreed they are a damned nuisance.
I am not favoured, any more or any less than the rest, except that I don't aggravate the wasps or waste precious words upon their unhearing ears. Nevertheless I agree they distract. I decided I could teach the section of wasps who live near my tent a lesson. After all they have to evolve, they must learn. Who knows, someday they may be a human being or a Government official and then they will be obliged to have their bottom smacked occasionally if they want to get on.
Procuring an attractive tin, tall, slender, bright and tinny I unwrapped three of the strongest sweets I have, grape, lime, and eau de acetate, dropped them into the tin and poured about a tablespoonful of water on them. In ten minutes this delectable concoction exuded fumes from the mouth of the tin surpassing the powers of every known variety of carnation, reaching out with all the fullness of its delicate vibrations.
It was not long before there was a queue to get in, if you can fairly call the neurotic actions of a flight of wasps, a queue.