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Letter ReferenceSmuts A1/206/121
ArchiveNational Archives Repository, Pretoria
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter Date3 July 1919
Address From9 Porchester Place, Edgware Road, Westminster, London
Address To
Who ToJan Smuts
Other Versions
PermissionsPlease read before using or citing this transcription
Legend
The Project is grateful to the National Archives Repository, Pretoria, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Special Collections. Will Schreiner died at the end of June 1919 and Smuts attended the committal ceremony at Golder’s Green crematorium. Schreiner has misdated the letter as June instead of July.
1 telephone no 6506
2 Paddington
3 9 Porchester Place
4 Edgware Road
5 W.
6 June 3rd 1919
7
8 Dear Jan
9
10 They tell me you were just behind me at Golders Green. I didn’t see
11you or I would have turned & shaken hands with you. He was so fond of
12you.
13
14 I’d so like to see you, Jan, before you go out to Africa. We
15shan’t see each other again as I shall never be able to go back to
16our country. I’m so glad to think my dear little Isie will have you
17with her again.
18
19 Jan, dear, I’m sure you begin to see this is a new century, that the
20old world with its aims & ideals is dying about us. With your splendid
21intellect & powers put yourself at the head of the incoming tide, &
22try to lead our people.
23
24 Yours with love
25 Olive Schreiner
26
27 I knew a year ago he was dying, but I always hoped I would go before
28him.
29