"Dinuzulu trial, white races plan to take away franchise from natives" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/37 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 12 October 1899 |
| Address From | Karree Kloof, Kran Kuil, Northern Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | William Philip ('Will') Schreiner |
| Other Versions | Rive 1987: 386 |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to Manuscripts and Archives, University of Cape Town, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscripts and Archives Collections. Schreiner stayed on the farm Karree Kloof from the end of August to early November 1899.
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1
Oct 12th 1899
2
3 Dear Laddie
4
5 So the blow has fallen. I had a letter from Reitz today telling me of
6the Ultimatum. It had to come dear.
7
8 I enclose you a letter I received from the cable company. Please cut
9up, or get some one to cut up my cable into two parts or three so that
10it can go, if you think it will be any use. One might leave out the
11last appeal to the American people, if it makes it too long. If you
12think the cable no good, we wait till I come down or I will send them.
13I am sorry to trouble you when your head & heart are full to breaking.
14It is a time when you have to keep a fearful restraint on yourself. I
15think come next week.
16
17 Olive
18
2
3 Dear Laddie
4
5 So the blow has fallen. I had a letter from Reitz today telling me of
6the Ultimatum. It had to come dear.
7
8 I enclose you a letter I received from the cable company. Please cut
9up, or get some one to cut up my cable into two parts or three so that
10it can go, if you think it will be any use. One might leave out the
11last appeal to the American people, if it makes it too long. If you
12think the cable no good, we wait till I come down or I will send them.
13I am sorry to trouble you when your head & heart are full to breaking.
14It is a time when you have to keep a fearful restraint on yourself. I
15think come next week.
16
17 Olive
18
Notation
The letter referred to is attached; it is from the Eastern South African Telegraph Company in Cape Town and dated 8 October 1899:
'Madam, To prevent congestion of traffic on the west coast line, on and after the 9th instit. and until further notice, all press messages are to be sent via the east coast. It will save delay if you will kindly hand your press messages direct to the Central Telegraph Office. In order to avoid being blocked by long press messages, no press message can be accepted exceeding 200 words in length. This system was adopted by the military authorities during the Soudan war, and worked admirably.
I am yours truly G.B. ?Stacey Supt.'
Rive’s (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.
The letter referred to is attached; it is from the Eastern South African Telegraph Company in Cape Town and dated 8 October 1899:
'Madam, To prevent congestion of traffic on the west coast line, on and after the 9th instit. and until further notice, all press messages are to be sent via the east coast. It will save delay if you will kindly hand your press messages direct to the Central Telegraph Office. In order to avoid being blocked by long press messages, no press message can be accepted exceeding 200 words in length. This system was adopted by the military authorities during the Soudan war, and worked admirably.
I am yours truly G.B. ?Stacey Supt.'
Rive’s (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.