"Great native question, we shall reap as we have sown" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner: John & Mary Brown MSC 26/2.2.8 |
| Archive | National Library of South Africa, Special Collections, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 24 February 1901 |
| Address From | Hanover, Northern Cape |
| Address To | Casa Eldreda, Bordighera, Italy |
| Who To | Mary Brown nee Solomon |
| Other Versions | |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), Cape Town, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Special Collections. The attached envelope has ‘OPENED UNDER MARTIAL LAW’ printed on it, as well as the censor’s stamp stating it was ‘passed’.
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1
Hanover
2 Feb 24 / 01
3
4 Dear Mrs Brown
5
6 I hope you are feeling stronger. With the coming of the spring in
7England one always feels fresh life: the winter takes so much out of
8one.
9
10 I am still living here alone with my little dog, & the war is raging
11all about one. It seems strange to me why I should have had to come
12here & live through this terrible time of sorrow to South Africa quite
13alone so far from all my friends. But perhaps some day I shall see
14some good from it. Life is all a great mystery.
15
16 My darling husband is still in Cape Town. It's been so terrible to
17hear the cannons firing & know that is means dead men Dutch & English
18lying on the velt. Somehow I am more sorry for the soldiers than the
19Boers who die.
20
21 Did I tell you that some of they young farmers beyond Cradock are
22going to put up a little monument to my baby? You will understand how
23much I feel it. Did you get my letter thanking the dear friends in
24England for their loving thought of us?
25
26 Good bye
27 Olive
28
2 Feb 24 / 01
3
4 Dear Mrs Brown
5
6 I hope you are feeling stronger. With the coming of the spring in
7England one always feels fresh life: the winter takes so much out of
8one.
9
10 I am still living here alone with my little dog, & the war is raging
11all about one. It seems strange to me why I should have had to come
12here & live through this terrible time of sorrow to South Africa quite
13alone so far from all my friends. But perhaps some day I shall see
14some good from it. Life is all a great mystery.
15
16 My darling husband is still in Cape Town. It's been so terrible to
17hear the cannons firing & know that is means dead men Dutch & English
18lying on the velt. Somehow I am more sorry for the soldiers than the
19Boers who die.
20
21 Did I tell you that some of they young farmers beyond Cradock are
22going to put up a little monument to my baby? You will understand how
23much I feel it. Did you get my letter thanking the dear friends in
24England for their loving thought of us?
25
26 Good bye
27 Olive
28