"Johannesburg, lust for gold, moral decay" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | HRC/UNCAT/OS-74 |
| Archive | Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | Thursday 17 September 1885 |
| Address From | 16 Portsea Place, Westminster, London |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Havelock Ellis |
| Other Versions | Cronwright-Schreiner 1924: 82; Draznin 1992: 383 |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University of Texas at Austin, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscript Collections. This letter has been dated by reference to information written onto it by Ellis. Schreiner was resident at Portsea Place from mid August to late October 1885.
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1Thursday evening
2
3I have not even tried to write or think to-day. This morning I was
4expecting you, & this afternoon I felt tired in heart & body. How is
5he this evening? I want to know so much. I will come to soon if you
6like, I will bring some lunch with me in my bag, & you & I will go
7walking about, & I we will have a picnic.
8
9Henry I want you to come & spend a whole day with me to come early in
10the morning & stay till late. I am trembling so in my legs this
11evening, & all over. Perhaps it’s my liver too. Miss Müller came
12this afternoon when I was gone to post your letter.
13
14Do you know Henry, that the real cause why I am happier & stronger now
15lies in you. You satisfie that deepest yearning in my nature for
16sympathy, so perfectly. If you are feeling bad & would like it I will
17come down & see you anytime
18
19Olive
20
2
3I have not even tried to write or think to-day. This morning I was
4expecting you, & this afternoon I felt tired in heart & body. How is
5he this evening? I want to know so much. I will come to soon if you
6like, I will bring some lunch with me in my bag, & you & I will go
7walking about, & I we will have a picnic.
8
9Henry I want you to come & spend a whole day with me to come early in
10the morning & stay till late. I am trembling so in my legs this
11evening, & all over. Perhaps it’s my liver too. Miss Müller came
12this afternoon when I was gone to post your letter.
13
14Do you know Henry, that the real cause why I am happier & stronger now
15lies in you. You satisfie that deepest yearning in my nature for
16sympathy, so perfectly. If you are feeling bad & would like it I will
17come down & see you anytime
18
19Olive
20
Notation
Draznin's (1992) version of this letter is in some respects different from our transcription. Cronwright-Schreiner's (1924) extract is incorrect in various ways.
Draznin's (1992) version of this letter is in some respects different from our transcription. Cronwright-Schreiner's (1924) extract is incorrect in various ways.