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Letter ReferenceHRC/CAT/OS/5a-iv
ArchiveHarry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter DateSunday 24 October 1915
Address FromLlandrindod Wells, Wales
Address To
Who ToHavelock Ellis
Other VersionsDraznin 1992: 495
PermissionsPlease 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. In the absence of other information, dating this letter has followed Draznin (1992), who has done so by reference to a version in the Lafitte Letters typescript in the British Library. Schreiner first stayed in Llandrindod Wells from late July to late October 1915, and then again from mid June to mid September 1916.
1Sunday
2
3Dear Havelock
4
5I shall get to London on Tuesday afternoon. If I am Don’t forget my
6address 2 Campden Hill Sq. if you & Edith are in Town. I believe here
7are plenty of “peace” meetings going on I believe I won’t go to
8any. I’m too old to be converted by any peace meetings from my
9condemnation of of war which I’ve carried in my heart for nearly
10half a century.
11
12Of course they condemn all people who fight against is, & all future
13wars, & some even condemn past wars – but the main end of most peace
14speakers & writers seem always to wind up by showing what a good
15people we are & what a noble & good thing it is we are fighting to-day
16& to prove how right & necessary it is we should maintain our
17superiority over the sea & the earth. “The earth is mine & the
18fullness thereof” sayeth the Englishman. “Any other nation which
19tries to build up such an Empire as we have in India & Burma (where we
20depopulated whole districts) & Africa & Egypt, & to rule the sea is a
21vile & wicked nation on which Gods curse will surely fall. Let us pray!”
22Oh the cant & humbug. I take the Globe & the Daily Mail, then you
23know where you are!
24
25Give my love to Edith. I hope I’ll see her some time & you.
26
27I feel quite sad to leave Llandrindod by my chests getting too bad.
28
29Olive
30
Notation
Draznin's (1992) version of this letter is in some respects different from our transcription.