Letter to Eleanor Marx, December 23, 1882

Author(s) Karl Marx
Written 23 December 1882


First published in: Marx and Engels, Works, Second Russian Edition, Vol. 35, Moscow, 1964
Printed according to the original
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 46


MARX TO ELEANOR MARX

IN LONDON

[Postcard, unsigned]

[Ventnor, 23 December 1882]

Dear Child,

From Laura's letter (which Engels sent me for information today[1] ) I see that Jennychen is again afflicted by that beastly inflamma- tion.[2] Should it be neglected, I can only fear the worst. We must really consider (and you should talk this over with Lenchen before coming to join me here) whether we ought not to relieve Jennychen at any rate of Harry, even if it should necessitate his coming here. How can Jennychen find time for the treatment of her illness WITH ALL THESE BABIES TOGETHER? And again, how neglected (as regards health) our Johnny will be should one of the others not be displaced in his stead?

Harry makes a difficult position doubly difficult
for poor Jennychen.

All I want you to bring is Physiologie by Rank (or Ranke—I'm not sure). Also Freeman's rotten little book (History of Europe), since it

serves me in lieu of a chronological table; it is in my bedroom on the shelves where the newspapers, etc., are.

[On the side reserved for the address]

Miss Marx
41 Maitland Park Road, Maitland Park,
London, N. W.

  1. ↑ See this volume, p. 413.
  2. ↑ Reichenbach, an aspiring writer living in Paris, sent a letter and several books to Marx's address to be passed on to Rudolph Meyer. In a letter to Marx of 27 May 1879 Meyer apologised for the inconvenience caused and expressed a wish to meet him.