"Great is silence, time for silence, time for speech" Read the full letter
Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold6/1907/34 |
Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
Epistolary Type | Letter |
Letter Date | 16 December 1907 |
Address From | De Aar, Northern Cape |
Address To | |
Who To | William Philip ('Will') Schreiner |
Other Versions | |
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.
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1
de Aar
2 Dec= 16th 1907
3
4 Dear Laddie
5
6 I enclose a cutting in addressed envelope to save you the trouble of
7addressing. I fear you are very very busy now.
8
9 Have you read "Biographical Studies" by Walter Bagehot"? They are all
10political study.
11
12 If ^you’ve^ not read them get them at once. They are most delightful,
13such deep political insight, especially the one on Peel.
14
15 I have read & re-read all his other works as he is a great favourite
16of mine.
17
18 Curiously enough though he is accounted a Conservative I hardly ever
19find a line in his writings I don’t agree with, except his review of
20the Reform Act of 1832 & a few kindred points. He is not in sympathy
21with the mass, that men can govern themselves for better than much
22better & cleverer persons can, just because being clever & better they
23don’t understand their needs.
24
25 Poor old Cron is looking terribly worn & thin. I am anxious lest he
26should break down. Things in B West have been a great pain to him. I
27have not lived through my seven years of anguish in Hanover for
28nothing. Nothing in that way can pain or surprise me any more.
29
30 I am ?continuing very unfit with my heart. There are times when it
31seems to me the end must be near; but I can’t leave Cron while he is
32so surrounded with difficulties or worries, or I should go away nearer
33to the coast at once. I may yet be compelled to but not as fo long as
34I can keep on my feet. Don’t trouble to reply if busy. I hope our
35young ones will do well at the exams.
36
37 ^Olive^
38
2 Dec= 16th 1907
3
4 Dear Laddie
5
6 I enclose a cutting in addressed envelope to save you the trouble of
7addressing. I fear you are very very busy now.
8
9 Have you read "Biographical Studies" by Walter Bagehot"? They are all
10political study.
11
12 If ^you’ve^ not read them get them at once. They are most delightful,
13such deep political insight, especially the one on Peel.
14
15 I have read & re-read all his other works as he is a great favourite
16of mine.
17
18 Curiously enough though he is accounted a Conservative I hardly ever
19find a line in his writings I don’t agree with, except his review of
20the Reform Act of 1832 & a few kindred points. He is not in sympathy
21with the mass, that men can govern themselves for better than much
22better & cleverer persons can, just because being clever & better they
23don’t understand their needs.
24
25 Poor old Cron is looking terribly worn & thin. I am anxious lest he
26should break down. Things in B West have been a great pain to him. I
27have not lived through my seven years of anguish in Hanover for
28nothing. Nothing in that way can pain or surprise me any more.
29
30 I am ?continuing very unfit with my heart. There are times when it
31seems to me the end must be near; but I can’t leave Cron while he is
32so surrounded with difficulties or worries, or I should go away nearer
33to the coast at once. I may yet be compelled to but not as fo long as
34I can keep on my feet. Don’t trouble to reply if busy. I hope our
35young ones will do well at the exams.
36
37 ^Olive^
38
Notation
The book referred to is: Walter Bagehot (1881) Biographical Studies London: Longmans, Green & Co.
The book referred to is: Walter Bagehot (1881) Biographical Studies London: Longmans, Green & Co.