1 The Homestead
2 Aug 12th 1898
3
4 Dear Laddie
5
6 I shall think of you on the 13th, but I feel no anxiety. I am sure you
7come in with flying colours. Here, I do not feel very hopeful. Not
8only is money flowing ^hot^ in streams, but as a flood it over-lays the
9land! – but ?Shaflingh it is said not to be so popular as he was, &
10Burton has not always got tact. (Private of course)
11
12 Bessie & Alice have left for the Free State. I like Bessie exceedingly,
13 but did not see much of them as they were staying at the Fullers. And
14I felt (though Alice & Bessie were most friendly) that to see much of
15us would not add to the pleasure of their visit in the fashionable De
16Beer's set.
17
18 The attacks upon Merriman are disgraceful. But they are so palpably
19false they cannot really touch him.
20
21I am wondering very much where Innes lies now! Does he still feel a
22ministry composed of Smart, Sievewright, &c, worthy of his confidence!
23I do hope as soon as the election is over, before Parliament meets you
24will be able to take a short, but complete holiday somewhere, before
25you enter on the duties of the session.
26
27 I am sorry Solomon did not stand for Kimberley again. I believe he
28would have got in. He is an immensely more popular man that Watkins.
29
30^Thy little sis^
31Olive
32
33 Thinking of Innes, I often wonder whether some men do not mistake
34their own timidity for conscience; & whether sins of omission are not
35as bad, perhaps worse, than sins of commission! Cron is working very
36hard he goes into town early in the morning, & doesn’t come out till
37after dark. He thinks he may be able to secure them 300 native votes,
38which may just turn the scale. Of course it makes his reading law
39impossible for the present. He has not yet heard of any thing at
40Johannesburg.