"Natives to be crushed, effects of the war" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold1/1908/8 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 17 February 1908 |
| Address From | De Aar, Northern Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | William Philip ('Will') Schreiner |
| Other Versions | |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to Manuscripts and Archives, University of Cape Town, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscripts and Archives Collections.
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1
De Aar
2 Feb 17 / 08
3
4 My dear Laddie
5
6 I don’t think you know how you are always in my thoughts. One reason
7why I am so anxious for you to get in at Queens Town is that I don’t
8want any thing that can at all worry or depress me: And there is
9always something depressing in trying to get in & failing.
10
11 I have my doubts of Cron’s getting in for Beaufort. The S.A. Party
12is playing a very curious game there, & as he is playing an open, &
13sincere game & can’t won’t come down to playing the double game
14which would make his return certain, will be played out. Curiously
15enough both the Dutch church parsons are on Cron’s side, especially
16Willox of Prince Albert who is a very fine liberal man.
17
18 On Saturday night I went down to dinner at the hotel as I had not been
19out for some days. While we were away the house was burgled. The
20window broken up by a huge pick axe which was left out side the window,
21 things ransacked, & my watch, the only valuable thing I have,
22cigarettes, scissors, two shillings (all I had in the house) &c &c
23taken. They seem to have decamped in a hurry. I believe it is the boy
24from the reformatory whom I once had, but it gives me an increased
25feeling of insecurity. Private. Don’t mention to any one; but this
26boy is always having to do with a white man in the place whom I
27don’t trust. We shall be burgled again in a small way & then
28something very ugly will happen one day.
29
30^Good bye, dear. Thy little sister ^
31 Olive
32
33
2 Feb 17 / 08
3
4 My dear Laddie
5
6 I don’t think you know how you are always in my thoughts. One reason
7why I am so anxious for you to get in at Queens Town is that I don’t
8want any thing that can at all worry or depress me: And there is
9always something depressing in trying to get in & failing.
10
11 I have my doubts of Cron’s getting in for Beaufort. The S.A. Party
12is playing a very curious game there, & as he is playing an open, &
13sincere game & can’t won’t come down to playing the double game
14which would make his return certain, will be played out. Curiously
15enough both the Dutch church parsons are on Cron’s side, especially
16Willox of Prince Albert who is a very fine liberal man.
17
18 On Saturday night I went down to dinner at the hotel as I had not been
19out for some days. While we were away the house was burgled. The
20window broken up by a huge pick axe which was left out side the window,
21 things ransacked, & my watch, the only valuable thing I have,
22cigarettes, scissors, two shillings (all I had in the house) &c &c
23taken. They seem to have decamped in a hurry. I believe it is the boy
24from the reformatory whom I once had, but it gives me an increased
25feeling of insecurity. Private. Don’t mention to any one; but this
26boy is always having to do with a white man in the place whom I
27don’t trust. We shall be burgled again in a small way & then
28something very ugly will happen one day.
29
30^Good bye, dear. Thy little sister ^
31 Olive
32
33