Typed Letter Signed ('Cyril Burt') to 'Mrs. Place' [i.e. Mrs G. M. Place, of the publishers Pitman].

4to: 2 pages. 37 lines of text. Text clear and entire on slightly discoloured paper, lightly worn and creased and with a few nicks to extremities. Signed properly on the second page. Place's essay, apparently a biographical account of the psychological development of a very young child, 'whiled [sic] away a long train journey last night very pleasantly'. While it is 'by far the best essay that [Burt has] received', Burt is sending 'criticisms rather than complimentary comments': 'the main psychological changes are not dated with sufficient accuracy to make the document as it stands really valuable as a scientific publication'. Discusses the significance of the 'date of talking [...] for a child's future development'. 'The change of emotional attitude from year to year is very interesting, and if one could collect a large number of careful records like your own, they would be extremely valuable.' References to 'temperament' and 'pigmentation': 'Those who emphasize the importance of race would rather assimilate her to the Mediterranean type - what is commonly miscalled Celtic in this country. | But, of course, all this is speculation.' At the foot of the first page, scored through by Burt: 'Yours very truly | [signed] Cyril Burt'. Paragraph on second page discussing 'the mother'.