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Letter ReferenceOlive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/12
ArchiveUniversity of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter Date26 July 1899
Address FromJohannesburg, Transvaal
Address To
Who ToFrances ('Fan') Schreiner nee Reitz
Other VersionsRive 1987: 371
PermissionsPlease 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.
1 July 26th 1899
2
3 Dear Fan
4
5 Thanks for the photo of Lyndall; it looks very bright & home like.
6Thankyou too for your letter received this afternoon.
7
8 It was a cowardly thing of Rhodes to read that wire; but it was like
9him. I have just had a letter from the publisher who has printed my
10article as a book in London. He writes that he sold 3,500 copies in
11five days, & hopes soon to have sold out the whole first edition of
125000. This is good as the book costs 1/- & it shows people are
13interest.
14
15 All my liberal & socialist friends in the north are working hard on
16our side, & write very hopeful letters.
17
18 I meet this afternoon one of the leading men in Johannesburg, a German
19millionaire, the only nice straight millionaire I ever met; he is the
20head of the German party here: he says things are settle for at least
21a year; th & seems very hopeful. He is bitterly opposed to Rhodes.
22
23 Did you get my photograph? I addressed it to Will’s office. One of
24the photographs I sent never reached its destination. I hope yours did
25not do the same.
26
27 Good bye dear
28 Olive
29
30 Write to me soon again. Your letters are so interesting.
31
32
33
Notation
The article referred to is An English South African's View of the Situation, 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 was also reprinted in a number of other newspapers. 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 A second edition of the book was ready but withdrawn from publication by Schreiner when the South African War started in October 1899, so as not to profit from this. Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter.