"Please don't discuss my affairs, my big sex book" Read the full letter
Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold3/1914/62 |
Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
Epistolary Type | Letter |
Letter Date | Tuesday 15 September 1914 |
Address From | 30 St Mary Abbotts Terrace, Kensington, London |
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. The date has been written on this letter in an unknown hand. Schreiner was resident in St Mary Abbotts Terrace for some weeks during August and September 1914.
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1Tuesday
2
3Dear Laddie
4
5Curry said on Friday – “Merriman sails for Africa tomorrow.” I
6said “Are you going too?” He answered – “No, next week” &
7added laughing “If I do go I know the parliament will sit for only
8three days, & I might as well stay here – if I don’t it will sit
9for three months!” That was all he said.
10
11The heat here has been terrible.
12
13I hope you keep pretty fit, dear. & I do hope Ol manages to go on with
14his studies I’ve no news.
15
16I meant to try & go to see the monkey at the zoo to comfort me, but
17don’t feel up to it. ^I shall try tomorrow.^
18
19I don’t like to go up to Scotland, till one knows what may happen
20down here.
21
22I see there’s some report about the Germans in S West Africa
23fighting near Uppington - but the papers lie so one believes nothing.
24When I went to see Lloyd George & told him what the crime on the head
25of his Government would be if they tried to force South Africa into a
26war with German West I think I told you he answered angrily, “But
27you South Africans wish to take German West Africa don’t you?”
28
29I explained, “Not unless we are fools or scoundrels. We have more
30uninhabited land & niggers than we know what to do with now.” I
31added that the day would come when Asiatic ?pacts would attack the
32Southern land when we would be glad of the presence of every German
33whom we slaughtered now.”
34
35How short sighted these clever politicians are! Living only for the
36day & their own power. We are turning the Asiatic on the Teuton today,
37It’s not the last time he’s going to attack him!
38
39I’m afraid it’s not true about Liebnecht – but with the millions
40of Russians coming on to Berlin, its not a question of upholding the
41Kaizer, but of defending the life of the common people.
42
43I’ve no news. I’m still waiting on.
44
45Love to you all dear.
46Olive
47
2
3Dear Laddie
4
5Curry said on Friday – “Merriman sails for Africa tomorrow.” I
6said “Are you going too?” He answered – “No, next week” &
7added laughing “If I do go I know the parliament will sit for only
8three days, & I might as well stay here – if I don’t it will sit
9for three months!” That was all he said.
10
11The heat here has been terrible.
12
13I hope you keep pretty fit, dear. & I do hope Ol manages to go on with
14his studies I’ve no news.
15
16I meant to try & go to see the monkey at the zoo to comfort me, but
17don’t feel up to it. ^I shall try tomorrow.^
18
19I don’t like to go up to Scotland, till one knows what may happen
20down here.
21
22I see there’s some report about the Germans in S West Africa
23fighting near Uppington - but the papers lie so one believes nothing.
24When I went to see Lloyd George & told him what the crime on the head
25of his Government would be if they tried to force South Africa into a
26war with German West I think I told you he answered angrily, “But
27you South Africans wish to take German West Africa don’t you?”
28
29I explained, “Not unless we are fools or scoundrels. We have more
30uninhabited land & niggers than we know what to do with now.” I
31added that the day would come when Asiatic ?pacts would attack the
32Southern land when we would be glad of the presence of every German
33whom we slaughtered now.”
34
35How short sighted these clever politicians are! Living only for the
36day & their own power. We are turning the Asiatic on the Teuton today,
37It’s not the last time he’s going to attack him!
38
39I’m afraid it’s not true about Liebnecht – but with the millions
40of Russians coming on to Berlin, its not a question of upholding the
41Kaizer, but of defending the life of the common people.
42
43I’ve no news. I’m still waiting on.
44
45Love to you all dear.
46Olive
47