"Life-long unions, ideal unions" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Smuts A1/186/84 |
| Archive | National Archives Repository, Pretoria |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 7 July 1899 |
| Address From | 2 Primrose Terrace, Berea, Johannesburg, Transvaal |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Isie Smuts nee Krige |
| Other Versions | Rive 1987: 367-8 |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to the National Archives Repository, Pretoria, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Special Collections. Schreiner was resident in Johannesburg from December 1898 to late August 1899.
|
1July 7th 1899
2
3Dear Mrs Smuts,
4
5I’ve been meaning to write ever since we were at Pretoria, but Miss
6Greene was very ill when we came back (she only got out of bed to go
7over) & my dear friends only left the day before yesterday. They so
8much enjoyed their day in Pretoria: but Johannesburg they hated as I
9think any true-hearted English person must. Here you see the English
10race at its worst. That is what saddens one so who knows the other
11noble & generous side of the English spirit.
12
13 I saw Onze Jan when he passed through, & was much grieved to see how
14ill & old he was looking.
15
16 I hope our little Coosie is still looking so bonny. Thank Ella for her
17letter which I was glad to get to-day. I don’t know when I shall be
18able to come over to Pretoria again as I must settle down to my
19writing.
20
21 Yours ever lovingly
22 Olive Schreiner
23
24 ^Did Mr Esselen get his books?^
25
26
27
2
3Dear Mrs Smuts,
4
5I’ve been meaning to write ever since we were at Pretoria, but Miss
6Greene was very ill when we came back (she only got out of bed to go
7over) & my dear friends only left the day before yesterday. They so
8much enjoyed their day in Pretoria: but Johannesburg they hated as I
9think any true-hearted English person must. Here you see the English
10race at its worst. That is what saddens one so who knows the other
11noble & generous side of the English spirit.
12
13 I saw Onze Jan when he passed through, & was much grieved to see how
14ill & old he was looking.
15
16 I hope our little Coosie is still looking so bonny. Thank Ella for her
17letter which I was glad to get to-day. I don’t know when I shall be
18able to come over to Pretoria again as I must settle down to my
19writing.
20
21 Yours ever lovingly
22 Olive Schreiner
23
24 ^Did Mr Esselen get his books?^
25
26
27
Notation
Rive's (1987) version of this letter omits part of the letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.
Rive's (1987) version of this letter omits part of the letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.