"Brute force, women fighting, England/SA comparison" Read the full letter
Collection Summary | View All |  Arrange By:
< Prev |
Viewing Item
of 586 | Next >
Letter ReferenceHRC/UNCAT/OS-73
ArchiveHarry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter DateThursday 17 September 1885
Address From16 Portsea Place, Westminster, London
Address To
Who ToHavelock Ellis
Other VersionsCronwright-Schreiner 1924: 81; Draznin 1992: 383
PermissionsPlease read before using or citing this transcription
Legend
The Project is grateful to the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University of Texas at Austin, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscript Collections. This letter has been dated by reference to information written onto it by Ellis. Schreiner was resident at Portsea Place from mid August to late October 1885.
1Wedn Thursday ^Afternoon^
2
3I have just got your card. Oh my boy. You told me yesterday you were
4all right, but I ought to have taken more care of you. I felt so sad
5last about you. Did you this morning get the letter I sent? I
6addressed it to 25 Cambridge Terrace Norwood. What is the matter with
7you, my sweet other self? You oughtn’t to have told me you were all
8right because I always believe you. Please tell my just how you feel.
9I want to put my arms round you & take care of you. I wonder if having
10that meat made you bad. If I’d only had something nice for my
11precious boy when he came. He was feeling so tired & bad.
12
13I sat up till half past 12 writing. That’s all the news I have. You
14must come soon again my Havelock. I have got such a nice little dinner
15& my clean dress
16
17^& we we going to have it & go up to Hampstead. We will another day my
18darling. And I was such a horrid girl just telling you about my
19article & nothing else. I long so to see you & be near to you. You are
20so beautiful to me whenever I think of you a little thrill goes
21through my heart^
22
23Olive
24
Notation
The particular article Schreiner was going to talk to Ellis about cannot be established. Draznin's (1992) version of this letter is in some respects different from our transcription. Cronwright-Schreiner's (1924) extract is incorrect in various ways.