
Beatrix Potter
Letter to Bertha E. Mahony (May
20, 1927)
May 20. 27
Sawrey
Nr Ambleside
Dear Miss Bertha Mahony,
Some months ago the Horn Book contained
a paragraph relating how the writer and illustrator of the “Peter
Rabbit” books lived in the district of the Westmorland Lakes
in the north of England. Peter Rabbit is not begging for himself
— and he offers something.
“Beatrix Potter” has
very much at heart an appeal to raise a fund to save a strip of
foreshore woodland and meadow, near Windermere Ferry, from imminent
risk of disfigurement by extensive building and town extension.
So many nice kind Americans come
through the Lake district on their tour, some of them ask after
Peter Rabbit. Do you think any of them would give a guinea (our
£1.1.0) to help this fund, in return for an autographed
drawing?
Alas! So many of our heirlooms
— our pictures, our ancient books even our old timbered
houses — are crossing the Atlantic — would not American
friends help to save a bit of our scenery?
It is only a half-mile of Lake
frontage; but it is right in the middle of the most beautiful
part of Windermere; and it is near my home.
Yrs sincerely
“Beatrix Potter”
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