"Eleanor Marx's death" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Karl Pearson 840/4/3/141-144 |
| Archive | University College London Library, Special Collections, UCL, London |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | December 1886 |
| Address From | 9 Blandford Square, Paddington, London |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Karl Pearson |
| Other Versions | |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to University College London (UCL) and its Library Services for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Special Collections. This brief insertion has been written on to a letter Schreiner received from Jessie Barnes, dated 4 December 1886 and hence the month and year given to the insertion. Schreiner was resident in Blandford Square from early October to late December 1886, when she left England for Europe.
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1
^This is from the lady whose other letters I showed you. This is from
2the woman who knew Hinton Mrs Barnes^
3
2the woman who knew Hinton Mrs Barnes^
3
Notation
This insertion is on to a letter Schreiner received from Jessie Barnes, of 7 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, London. This is dated 4 December 1886 and hence the month and year given to the insertion. Barnes’s letter is as follows:
'I’ve been waiting to write to you till I could get out of a certain mental condition I’ve been in for some days past. Feeling a little bit better to-night I have turned to answer your letter. I think I will begin at the beginning. About your friend – It seems I have taken you in (as well as others) most innocently I am sure – I am in no wise a person of fashion – And have very little indeed to spend on myself. I think I may truthfully say that every scrap of superfluous finery of mine finds its way into the hands of some pretty girl worse off than myself – But I am so sorry for your friend that I will try if I can possibly get some of the rich women I know to give me some things worth having – I am not very sanguine though – The only warm-hearted women I know have very little money. If I get anything worth having I will send it to the address you give. Were you really glad to see me? I am glad. – I am only afraid of getting to care for you too much – love always brings pain to me – I think I am under a curse. I wish you would come in and see us on Sunday. I want you so much to know more of my step-father – I think you would rather like, and be amused at my big sister – she is unique in her way & far better than appears on the surface! Please do not believe any good you may hear of her from Dr Donkin – he is an enthusiast in his friendships and projects – his own fine and noble nature is to others – and she has, in the past led him into great suffering but since he has known you he is more like his own bright genial self than he has been for year & years. It is a god-like gift that power of bestowing happiness on others – May you always have it! It is the most precious thing you can possess. I have not read the plays you mention but I have heard a great deal about them from Edward Rose – I will get them. I know what they are like – I have read one of that school – I cannot remember the title – it was badly translated but I remember I thought the play very powerful and very heart rending. If you will not come to us I will come to you, if you ask me – and sun myself in your dear bright little face. Always sincerely yours Jessie unreadable Barnes.'
This insertion is on to a letter Schreiner received from Jessie Barnes, of 7 Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square, London. This is dated 4 December 1886 and hence the month and year given to the insertion. Barnes’s letter is as follows:
'I’ve been waiting to write to you till I could get out of a certain mental condition I’ve been in for some days past. Feeling a little bit better to-night I have turned to answer your letter. I think I will begin at the beginning. About your friend – It seems I have taken you in (as well as others) most innocently I am sure – I am in no wise a person of fashion – And have very little indeed to spend on myself. I think I may truthfully say that every scrap of superfluous finery of mine finds its way into the hands of some pretty girl worse off than myself – But I am so sorry for your friend that I will try if I can possibly get some of the rich women I know to give me some things worth having – I am not very sanguine though – The only warm-hearted women I know have very little money. If I get anything worth having I will send it to the address you give. Were you really glad to see me? I am glad. – I am only afraid of getting to care for you too much – love always brings pain to me – I think I am under a curse. I wish you would come in and see us on Sunday. I want you so much to know more of my step-father – I think you would rather like, and be amused at my big sister – she is unique in her way & far better than appears on the surface! Please do not believe any good you may hear of her from Dr Donkin – he is an enthusiast in his friendships and projects – his own fine and noble nature is to others – and she has, in the past led him into great suffering but since he has known you he is more like his own bright genial self than he has been for year & years. It is a god-like gift that power of bestowing happiness on others – May you always have it! It is the most precious thing you can possess. I have not read the plays you mention but I have heard a great deal about them from Edward Rose – I will get them. I know what they are like – I have read one of that school – I cannot remember the title – it was badly translated but I remember I thought the play very powerful and very heart rending. If you will not come to us I will come to you, if you ask me – and sun myself in your dear bright little face. Always sincerely yours Jessie unreadable Barnes.'