"Be sure to send proofs, hope the world goes well" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold1/Jan-June1899/21 |
| 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 | William Philip ('Will') Schreiner |
| Other Versions | Rive 1987: 351-2 |
| 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. Schreiner was resident in Berea, Johannesburg, from December 1898 until late August 1899.
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1
May 17th 1899
2
3 My darling Laddie
4
5 My heart is all with you in this terrible & trying time.
6
7 The plot has come out. Curious, I knew nothing of it, but I felt it
8was there!
9
10 Dear Laddie, there is only one thing, to hold by the right, & then
11whether we fall or rise whether we succeed or fail no real harm can
12touch us. ^What is even death!^ It is so merciful that there is always
13that to cling to, when all is dark & doubtful about us.
14
15 If the Governor comes to Bloemfontein I shall try to be there in hope
16of meeting him alone for an hour, but it is doubtful whether even if I
17go I shall get that hour. I ^shall of course be most careful to let no
18one know I am going in the hope of meeting him.^
19
20 The feeling in Johannesburg among the general public is growing
21stronger against the League. The tone of feeling here has changed
22wonderfully during the last six months even.
23
24 Your little sister
25 Olive
26
27
28
2
3 My darling Laddie
4
5 My heart is all with you in this terrible & trying time.
6
7 The plot has come out. Curious, I knew nothing of it, but I felt it
8was there!
9
10 Dear Laddie, there is only one thing, to hold by the right, & then
11whether we fall or rise whether we succeed or fail no real harm can
12touch us. ^What is even death!^ It is so merciful that there is always
13that to cling to, when all is dark & doubtful about us.
14
15 If the Governor comes to Bloemfontein I shall try to be there in hope
16of meeting him alone for an hour, but it is doubtful whether even if I
17go I shall get that hour. I ^shall of course be most careful to let no
18one know I am going in the hope of meeting him.^
19
20 The feeling in Johannesburg among the general public is growing
21stronger against the League. The tone of feeling here has changed
22wonderfully during the last six months even.
23
24 Your little sister
25 Olive
26
27
28
Notation
Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.
Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.