London, 14 February 1877 

Dear Mrs Pauli, 

I fear that, if all the plans hatched during the winter in Rheinau 
are to come to fruition, the length of the summer would have to 
be nine months rather than three. Time will show whether 
anything can come of the proposal you make in your kind letter, 
but one major snag is, alas, already evident to me and that is my 
wife’s* health. So far she has come reasonably well through the 
winter, and similarly the wear and tear of the Christmas campaign 
(in which all festivities here in England are concentrated); but I 
couldn’t yet say to what extent I shall be able to mobilise her, 
come September, for another Munich campaign without her acting 
as a drag on the mobility of others. During the past six weeks we 
have again had bad luck of one kind after another with maids and 
now, at the very time when she ought to be resting, she often has 
to exert herself beyond her strength. I had foreseen this 
eventuality and had therefore reserved the right vis-a-vis the 
Schupps to bring Pumps back at any time. Now things have come 
to such a pass that she absolutely must relieve my wife of the 
housekeeping, and since, apart from anything else, I myself 
cannot very well get away, I shall probably take advantage of an 
opportunity which presents itself and have her escorted back 
home around the Ist or, at the latest, the 15th of March. As soon 
as I know anything definite, which should be within the next few 
days, I shall let both Pumps and Miss Schupp have further 
particulars; until then I would ask you to say nothing about the 
matter to them. 

As soon as we have got the house into some sort of order, I 
intend to take my wife to the seaside for a fortnight or so to help 
her recover her appetite and prevent her from getting too 
debilitated.“” You’d have laughed had you seen me making 
the bed last night and lighting the kitchen fire this morning. 

That you found the elections ” tedious I can well believe, seeing 
that you are not allowed to vote in them. When we take over the 
helm, not only will women be given the vote, they will also be 

“ Lizzie Burns 

elected and make speeches. The latter already applies to the 
school board here and, last November, I gave all my 7 votes toa 
lady who, as a result, had more votes than any of the other 7 
candidates for election. Incidentally, the ladies who sit on school 
boards here are notable for the fact that they do very little talking 
and a great deal of working—as much on average as three men. 
Or perhaps it’s a case of ‘new brooms sweeping clean’? However, 
most of these ‘brooms’ are pretty ancient. 

At all events we shall bear the September project constantly in 
mind and do all we can to implement it. And now I would beg 
you to convey my wife’s and my own warm regards to Pauli and 
the children and accept our kindest regards on your own behalf. 

Yours very sincerely, 

F. Engels