1 Hotel Milner
2 Matjesfontein
3 Cape Colony
4 Dec 30 / 08
5
6 Dear Laddie
7
8 All good wishes for good work in the New Year. I suppose you will find
9this when you return to Greytown & are over head & ears in work again
10but I hope a little better for your holiday. I’ve written several
11times to Fan to ask for your address, but as I haven’t got any
12answer I suppose she & Ursula are away somewhere.
13
14 I had a very very nice, most touching letter from old Sir Bryant Berry
15this morning. It was quite cheering. Have you had a copy of my paper?
16I sent one to East London for you as the papers said you were going
17there, & one to Grey Town. I am here all alone in my glory; the old
18gentleman & lady who have been the only other inmates of the hotel
19leave tonight. I think what I need almost more than cool air is a
20little friendly intercourse. My heart is so bad. I would have gone
21down to Cape Town but I don’t care to do so while the Convention is
22sitting. I know, as perhaps you don’t, what a farce all this
23buttering down of each other is. Men don’t flatter each other so
24unless they want to get something out of each other!
25
26 I’ve got rather a curious long letter from a Coloured man in Cape
27Town a builder & contractor. He’s very thankful for my paper, but
28doesn’t think I’m half down enough on those wretched Asiatics (who
29take all his work!!!) & he doesn’t seem to love the Bantus. It’s
30strange how very fond we all are of freedom for ourselves, & how
31little we desire it for other people. What I am anxious to know is
32just where Malan & Sauer & Merriman are! If they will stand then
33there’s a chance but I can’t think they will. When the convention
34is over I shall go down & have a talk with Malan.
35
36 Good bye dear Laddie.
37 Alles ten besten
38 Olive
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