"Nasty blow, political instinct" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold2/1894/8 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 26 April 1894 |
| Address From | Krantz Plaats, Halesowen, Eastern Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | William Philip ('Will') Schreiner |
| Other Versions | Rive 1987: 238 |
| 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.
|
1
Krantz Plaats
2 PO Halesowen
3 April 26 / 94
4
5 My dear Laddie
6
7 Thou art ever in the thoughts of this person. It’s the one draw back
8that in being so far from Capetown I am so far from you. All goes very
9well with me. The other day we drove over to Mrs Cawoods & I was
10thrown violently out of the cart in passing through a sluit, but got
11no hurt beyond a blackened area.
12
13 I am very happy dear. My daily life is happier than it has ever been
14in my life before, & my husband become dearer & closer to me day by
15day. One has to live with him to realize how strong he is. I don’t
16mean strong in the shallow external strength, but strong in that deep
17self-governing sense, in which those stronger externally are often
18weak. He is going away to Grahamstown on the 7th for a week, on
19business, & I can’t go on account of asthma there. My asthma is a
20bit better, but I daren’t go nearer the coast as I am very anxious
21to be well just now.
22
23 Give my love to our little folk & Fan, & write me a letter with some
24news. I tell you all I can about myself!
25
26 Cron sends his love to you. It’s about ten o’clock. He’s in the
27next room making a cup of tea for himself with the Etna, before he
28turns in.
29
30 Good night my old brother. You’ll have wide open spaces to welcome
31you if ever you come here.
32
33 Your little sissie
34 Olive
35
36 Cron says I must send special love to Fan & the children; he’s lying
37in bed now reading Jean Ingelo & I’m going to write my English
38letters.
39
40Krantz Plaats
41 April 25 / 94
42
2 PO Halesowen
3 April 26 / 94
4
5 My dear Laddie
6
7 Thou art ever in the thoughts of this person. It’s the one draw back
8that in being so far from Capetown I am so far from you. All goes very
9well with me. The other day we drove over to Mrs Cawoods & I was
10thrown violently out of the cart in passing through a sluit, but got
11no hurt beyond a blackened area.
12
13 I am very happy dear. My daily life is happier than it has ever been
14in my life before, & my husband become dearer & closer to me day by
15day. One has to live with him to realize how strong he is. I don’t
16mean strong in the shallow external strength, but strong in that deep
17self-governing sense, in which those stronger externally are often
18weak. He is going away to Grahamstown on the 7th for a week, on
19business, & I can’t go on account of asthma there. My asthma is a
20bit better, but I daren’t go nearer the coast as I am very anxious
21to be well just now.
22
23 Give my love to our little folk & Fan, & write me a letter with some
24news. I tell you all I can about myself!
25
26 Cron sends his love to you. It’s about ten o’clock. He’s in the
27next room making a cup of tea for himself with the Etna, before he
28turns in.
29
30 Good night my old brother. You’ll have wide open spaces to welcome
31you if ever you come here.
32
33 Your little sissie
34 Olive
35
36 Cron says I must send special love to Fan & the children; he’s lying
37in bed now reading Jean Ingelo & I’m going to write my English
38letters.
39
40Krantz Plaats
41 April 25 / 94
42
Notation
Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect. Jean Ingelow was a British poet and novelist, but the particular book by her referred to cannot be established.
Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect. Jean Ingelow was a British poet and novelist, but the particular book by her referred to cannot be established.