"Air raid, a wonderful & impressive thing" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold1/1912/37 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 13 August 1912 |
| Address From | De Aar, Northern Cape |
| Address To | Chambers, St Georges Street, Cape Town, Western Cape |
| 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. The address this letter was sent to is provided by an attached envelope.
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1
De Aar
2 Aug 13th 1912
3
4 Dear Laddie
5
6 Thanks much for the penguin eggs, much enjoyed for supper this evening
7by us both.
8
9 I hope you feel better for your little bit of holiday. I am waiting to
10see the verdict in Mrs Martin’s case. It seems to me most unlikely
11that any man would promise half his farm to a daughter-in-law who
12after his son’s death had married another man. "It ain’t human
13nature!" I suppose she’ll get compensation – but I think she’s a
14liar. I always like to feel sympathetic to your clients, but I don’t
15to her.
16
17 I’ve been getting some very depressed letters from poor old Merriman.
18 It seems down to the last moment both Sauer & Burton assured him they
19were quite safe in their posts & masters of the situation. As for me,
20I never feel any disappointment at anything a politician does any more.
21 When a man becomes a politician – he becomes a politician! All men
22who enter parliament do not become politicians – you & Merriman for
23instance are not politicians. I mean that as a great compliment, as
24I’ve just been telling Merriman. What I heard of Malan when I was in
25town sends a knife into my heart every time I think of him or see his
26name written. Now my faith in politicians is wholly & forever dead. I
27am grateful Cron is out of it all.
28
29 I’m a bit better, better than I ever thought I should be again.
30I’ve got my feet fairly on the ground once more.
31
32 I hope Ollie boy is enjoying his time. I’m sure you are.
33
34 Love to all the dear folk at Villa Flandre.
35 Thine ever & ever
36 Ol
37
38
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2 Aug 13th 1912
3
4 Dear Laddie
5
6 Thanks much for the penguin eggs, much enjoyed for supper this evening
7by us both.
8
9 I hope you feel better for your little bit of holiday. I am waiting to
10see the verdict in Mrs Martin’s case. It seems to me most unlikely
11that any man would promise half his farm to a daughter-in-law who
12after his son’s death had married another man. "It ain’t human
13nature!" I suppose she’ll get compensation – but I think she’s a
14liar. I always like to feel sympathetic to your clients, but I don’t
15to her.
16
17 I’ve been getting some very depressed letters from poor old Merriman.
18 It seems down to the last moment both Sauer & Burton assured him they
19were quite safe in their posts & masters of the situation. As for me,
20I never feel any disappointment at anything a politician does any more.
21 When a man becomes a politician – he becomes a politician! All men
22who enter parliament do not become politicians – you & Merriman for
23instance are not politicians. I mean that as a great compliment, as
24I’ve just been telling Merriman. What I heard of Malan when I was in
25town sends a knife into my heart every time I think of him or see his
26name written. Now my faith in politicians is wholly & forever dead. I
27am grateful Cron is out of it all.
28
29 I’m a bit better, better than I ever thought I should be again.
30I’ve got my feet fairly on the ground once more.
31
32 I hope Ollie boy is enjoying his time. I’m sure you are.
33
34 Love to all the dear folk at Villa Flandre.
35 Thine ever & ever
36 Ol
37
38
39