"Dream for federation of South Africa, one day we shall need love & devotion of black & coloured man" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.102 |
| Archive | National Library of South Africa, Special Collections, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 6 May 1896 |
| Address From | The Homestead, Kimberley, Northern Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Mary Sauer nee Cloete |
| Other Versions | Rive 1987: 275-6 |
| 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 date has been written on this letter in an unknown hand. Schreiner was resident in Kimberley from early August 1894 to November 1898.
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1
Darling
2
3 I would advise you not to take Dorothy to England at all but to send
4her to Miss Moltenos at Port Elizabeth. You know my horror of schools,
5well if l had a child & had to part with it I would send it there. If
6l were to die & leave a child I would leave it to Miss Molteno's care.
7You've conception what a great woman she is, & what a sweet &
8beneficent influence runs through that school.
9
10 I know she & Miss Green will take Dorothy to their hearts, &
11sympathize with the childs high strung sensitive nature I will write
12to them myself, & they will take a special interest in her. I am sure
13you would never regret sending her there. My friend Mr Lloyd has a
14daughter at their school. When they took her up to Johannesburg she
15fretted & got quite ill with longing to go back to Miss Moltenos &
16they had to send her
17
18 Olive
19
20 ^Write & let me know what you think of this plan. You never know Miss
21Molteno and Miss Green till you see them in their school.
22
23 Olive^
24
2
3 I would advise you not to take Dorothy to England at all but to send
4her to Miss Moltenos at Port Elizabeth. You know my horror of schools,
5well if l had a child & had to part with it I would send it there. If
6l were to die & leave a child I would leave it to Miss Molteno's care.
7You've conception what a great woman she is, & what a sweet &
8beneficent influence runs through that school.
9
10 I know she & Miss Green will take Dorothy to their hearts, &
11sympathize with the childs high strung sensitive nature I will write
12to them myself, & they will take a special interest in her. I am sure
13you would never regret sending her there. My friend Mr Lloyd has a
14daughter at their school. When they took her up to Johannesburg she
15fretted & got quite ill with longing to go back to Miss Moltenos &
16they had to send her
17
18 Olive
19
20 ^Write & let me know what you think of this plan. You never know Miss
21Molteno and Miss Green till you see them in their school.
22
23 Olive^
24
Notation
Rive's (1987) version of this letter is in a number of respects incorrect.
Rive's (1987) version of this letter is in a number of respects incorrect.