"Wonderful Dot Schreiner, tall thin woman who caused me no end of trouble" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold1/Jan-June1899/20 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 17 May 1899 |
| Address From | Johannesburg, Transvaal |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Betty Molteno |
| 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. The date has been written on this letter in an unknown hand. The name of the addressee is indicated by salutation. Schreiner was resident in Berea, Johannesburg, from December 1898 until late August 1899.
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1
Dear Friend
2
3 We are passing through strange & troublous times. I am trying to get
4an article on the political situation finished which, if I don’t
5break down will be published in the papers in a few days. Oh dear
6friend the scoundrelly meanness of all these intrigues, but I cannot
7help feeling right must win. I think you will like my paper. My heart
8has been very bad the last week but the weather is splendid & cold.
9
10 Olive
11
12^Cron is perhaps going to take the editorship of the Freestate Express.
13I hope not; but we shall know next week when I will write you fully. ^
14
15 Olive
16
17
18
2
3 We are passing through strange & troublous times. I am trying to get
4an article on the political situation finished which, if I don’t
5break down will be published in the papers in a few days. Oh dear
6friend the scoundrelly meanness of all these intrigues, but I cannot
7help feeling right must win. I think you will like my paper. My heart
8has been very bad the last week but the weather is splendid & cold.
9
10 Olive
11
12^Cron is perhaps going to take the editorship of the Freestate Express.
13I hope not; but we shall know next week when I will write you fully. ^
14
15 Olive
16
17
18
Notation
The 'another article' referred to cannot be clearly established, but could have been one of Schreiner's long open letters to newspapers, or it could refer to what became An English South African's View of the Situation. An English South African's View of the Situation was originally published in the South African News over three successive days; see 'Words in Season. An English South African's View of the Situation' South African News 1 June 1899 (p.8), 2 June 1899 (p.8) and 3 June 1899 (also p.8). It then was published as a pamphlet, then as a book. A second edition of the book was ready but withdrawn from publication by Schreiner when the South African War started in October 1899, so as not to profit from this.
The 'another article' referred to cannot be clearly established, but could have been one of Schreiner's long open letters to newspapers, or it could refer to what became An English South African's View of the Situation. An English South African's View of the Situation was originally published in the South African News over three successive days; see 'Words in Season. An English South African's View of the Situation' South African News 1 June 1899 (p.8), 2 June 1899 (p.8) and 3 June 1899 (also p.8). It then was published as a pamphlet, then as a book. A second edition of the book was ready but withdrawn from publication by Schreiner when the South African War started in October 1899, so as not to profit from this.