"The senses, sexual sense" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.45 |
| Archive | National Library of South Africa, Special Collections, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | Wednesday 23 December 1891 |
| Address From | Queen's Hotel, Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Mary Sauer nee Cloete |
| Other Versions | Rive 1987: 197 |
| 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.
|
1
Queen's Hotel
2 Frid Wednesday
3
4 Dear Mary,
5
6 I'm sitting here with the beautiful old sea making a noise just below
7my window. It's so beautiful & peaceful here. There is no use in
8crying out or struggling in life, just in silently & bravely taking
9every that comes & making the best of it for ?oursel ^others^, saving
10them from all the pain we can. Yes, life is very puzzling.
11
12 You must come out here one afternoon soon & let us go & sit on the
13rocks. I've a beautiful room here looking out right over the sea up
14stairs where I need never see any body. It's so beautiful this rest &
15quiet. I am sending you a little picture frame. I'll have my likeness
16taken to put in it. I hope this year which is coming will be a very
17beautiful & happy one to you dear, & to to Mr Sauer.
18
19 He was I unreadable Miss Conybeare & I will like to come on Saturday &
20if I shouldn't come can she? She's alone at Mowbray, you know.
21
22 Good night
23 Olive
24
25 I don't think I'll be able to come on Xmas afternoon, but thank you so
26much for asking me
27
28 ^I think for more than one reason we'd better leave our Houts Bay trip
29till next week^
30
2 Frid Wednesday
3
4 Dear Mary,
5
6 I'm sitting here with the beautiful old sea making a noise just below
7my window. It's so beautiful & peaceful here. There is no use in
8crying out or struggling in life, just in silently & bravely taking
9every that comes & making the best of it for ?oursel ^others^, saving
10them from all the pain we can. Yes, life is very puzzling.
11
12 You must come out here one afternoon soon & let us go & sit on the
13rocks. I've a beautiful room here looking out right over the sea up
14stairs where I need never see any body. It's so beautiful this rest &
15quiet. I am sending you a little picture frame. I'll have my likeness
16taken to put in it. I hope this year which is coming will be a very
17beautiful & happy one to you dear, & to to Mr Sauer.
18
19 He was I unreadable Miss Conybeare & I will like to come on Saturday &
20if I shouldn't come can she? She's alone at Mowbray, you know.
21
22 Good night
23 Olive
24
25 I don't think I'll be able to come on Xmas afternoon, but thank you so
26much for asking me
27
28 ^I think for more than one reason we'd better leave our Houts Bay trip
29till next week^
30
Notation
Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.
Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.