"Downward movement of England, of South Africa, downtrodden millions" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold1/1891/7 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | March 1891 |
| Address From | Matjesfontein, Western Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Frances ('Fan') Schreiner nee Reitz |
| 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 month and year have been written on this letter in an unknown hand. Schreiner was mainly resident in Matjesfontein between December 1889 and December 1892, with some fairly lengthy visits elsewhere, including Cape Town.
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1
Darling Fan
2
3 Write & tell me a little about "Bilfor" & what you are doing all the
4time.
5
6 The Innes are here, delightful people, & Innes likes Will so, which
7makes me like him more. I am well, working like old boots! Never
8satisfied with what I do, always think it ought to be better.
9
10 Longing for my children after the 31st of this month I shall be free &
11can go in wildly for dissipation, & see you all.
12
13 Olive
14
15 P.S. I couldn’t go to Grahams-town now, till the end of the month,
16but should you want to go at once, I could come & meet you there when
17my arb article is done. It has been promised to the London Editors for
18& I must get it done with in the last next three weeks I could go away
19to Kimberley but not to Grahamstown as that will take too long. If
20ever I do go I must see Mrs Cawood on the way.
21
22 Please write to me when your plans are formed. I send you a letter of
23Forts. If his father is dying he may be obliged to stay. I have made
24great friends with that Captain & Mrs Marriot who have been staying
25here, & if Wilfred does go up to Kimberley with me that they would be
26very jolly companions. unreadable
27
28 Good bye
29 Olive
30
31
32
2
3 Write & tell me a little about "Bilfor" & what you are doing all the
4time.
5
6 The Innes are here, delightful people, & Innes likes Will so, which
7makes me like him more. I am well, working like old boots! Never
8satisfied with what I do, always think it ought to be better.
9
10 Longing for my children after the 31st of this month I shall be free &
11can go in wildly for dissipation, & see you all.
12
13 Olive
14
15 P.S. I couldn’t go to Grahams-town now, till the end of the month,
16but should you want to go at once, I could come & meet you there when
17my arb article is done. It has been promised to the London Editors for
18& I must get it done with in the last next three weeks I could go away
19to Kimberley but not to Grahamstown as that will take too long. If
20ever I do go I must see Mrs Cawood on the way.
21
22 Please write to me when your plans are formed. I send you a letter of
23Forts. If his father is dying he may be obliged to stay. I have made
24great friends with that Captain & Mrs Marriot who have been staying
25here, & if Wilfred does go up to Kimberley with me that they would be
26very jolly companions. unreadable
27
28 Good bye
29 Olive
30
31
32
Notation
The article referred to is one of Schreiner's 'Returned South African' essays. These were originally published in a range of magazines, with this first one published in the Fortnightly; she intended to rework them in book form, as Stray Thoughts on South Africa. A dispute with a publisher and then the outbreak of the South African War (1899-1902) prevented this, and they were in the event with some additional essays published posthumously as Thoughts on South Africa.
The article referred to is one of Schreiner's 'Returned South African' essays. These were originally published in a range of magazines, with this first one published in the Fortnightly; she intended to rework them in book form, as Stray Thoughts on South Africa. A dispute with a publisher and then the outbreak of the South African War (1899-1902) prevented this, and they were in the event with some additional essays published posthumously as Thoughts on South Africa.