Letter to Jenny Longuet, September 16, 1878


MARX TO JENNY LONGUET

IN MALVERN

[Postcard]

[London, 16 September 1878]

My dear Child,

I hope that the better news of Johnny[1] continues. You must let us have bulletins every day, and always the strict truth. The little chap is the apple of my eye. Above all, he must be spared undue exertion, hence not too much movement (passive or active) OUT OF HIS HOME. If he makes good progress, as I hope, it might be better not to leave until Saturday (instead of Friday[2] ). For one additional day's rest and recuperation is of great importance in his case.

Today Engels took himself off to Hampton[3] with Madame Renshaw and Pumps who has already put on quite the air, not to say BEHAVIOUR, of a princesse régnante,[4] along with the 5 GUINEA mourning gown; this last, however, has only served to increase her ill-conceived 'glee'. Tussy will be sending you further details of these peculiar goings-on.

According to the news sent by Liebknecht, Bismarck's Bill[5] will be rejected out of hand or else passed with modifications that will draw its sting.

MY BEST LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR MAMA Puppy,[6] the good little fellow, is much improved.

Your

Moor

  1. Jean Longuet
  2. 20 September (see this volume, p. 332).
  3. After Lizzy Burns' death on 12 September 1878, Engels left for Littlehampton (on 16 September).
  4. reigning princess
  5. A reference to the Anti-Socialist Law. The discussion of the bill began in the Reichstag on 16 September 1878 (see Note 462).
  6. Probably Henry Longuet