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Letter ReferenceG.W. Cross MS 14, 462/15
ArchiveCory Library, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter Date21 April 1898
Address FromThe Homestead, Kimberley, Northern Cape
Address To
Who ToG.W. Cross
Other VersionsRive 1987: 328-9
PermissionsPlease read before using or citing this transcription
Legend
The Project is grateful to the Cory Library for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of their collections.
1 The Homestead
2 Saturday night
3
4 Dear Friend
5
6 Thankyou for your letter. I have of late a curious increasing clinging
7to all my friends, & human affection, the mere expression of it, even
8when I know it exists, seems so much more dear to me than it used it.
9I used to think I only wanted to give, I feel now I need more to
10receive.
11
12 April 21st 1898
13
14 This letter was begun the day I got yours just as I was leaving for
15Johannesburg. I did not find time to finish it. We returned to
16Kimberley this morning after a fortnight's stay with the dear Lloyds.
17We both feel much the richer for our visit. Not only did we get to
18know Mr Lloyd much better than ever before; but we got to know & love
19his dear sweet little wife, with her big wonderful eyes. I have never
20enjoyed a visit so much I think. All the world seems warmer when one
21is near Mr Lloyd.
22
23 You wouldn't say I didn't value your letters if you know I had read
24your last letter over three times. I don't know whether it is because
25I am not physically so strong as I used to be that I cling so to my
26fellows. Have you read a very beautiful & touching story in the
27Century magazine called Madam Butterfly? Its one of the most powerful
28little stories I've read for a long long time. Read it & tell me if
29you don't agree with me. Have you also read a very interesting article
30in Temple Bar for March called on Toussant L'Ouverture? If I had time
31I should like to write an article on him for some Colonial paper. So
32few Colonials know that there has been at least one great man of
33genius who was a pure-blooded negro.
34
35 Cron sends his warmest greetings to you.
36
37 Yours with love to your wife as well as yourself.
38 Olive Schreiner
39
40
Notation
Rive's (1987) version of this letter omits part of it and is also in a number of respects incorrect. The story of Madame Butterfly by John Luther Long appeared in The Century in January 1898 pp.374-98; in his version, Butterfly failed to kill herself, was rescued by her maid and they and Butterfly's son left Tokio before Pinkerton and his wife arrived to collect the child. The article on Toussaint L'Ouverture is: I.A. Taylor (1898) "Toussaint L'Ouverture: A Study in Black and White" Temple Bar April 1898, pp.404-15.