"Rhodes system, the matrix, fruits of native policy" Read the full letter
Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/10 |
Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
Epistolary Type | Letter |
Letter Date | April 1912 |
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. The month and year have been written on this letter in an unknown hand. Schreiner returned to De Aar from visiting Cape Town, Blauuberg and Muizenberg in mid April 1912.
|
1
Darling Laddie
2
3 Just as I’d finished my screed to you Cron came in with your so very
4welcome letter & the enclosed – not so welcome.
5
6 It’s lovely about our boy. His is a rare nature. Those wonderful
7gifts of the heart & head combined. I have not heard from Ursie for a
8long long time. Am glad of the news of her. She would never have had
9the strength to go through the terrible nursing course – a doctors
10doesn’t require a 20th of the physical strength. I do hope the
11darling child won’t let her ambition get the better of her & want to
12take the London MB. You can be quite as good a doctor & take the much
13easier entrances say, the College of Preceptors preliminary. How easy
14that is you can think when I tell you that Fred went with me carefully
15over all the papers testing me - & he said (if I didn’t fail in
16spelling – which I wouldn’t I’d take care of that if there were
17any need) – he would easily prepare me to pass in three months even
18with my small knowledge of Latin!! I had only been three times through
19Smith’s Latin Principia by myself! She will have no difficulties
20with the exams if she doesn’t want honours - & a man or woman is no
21better doctor for them!
22
23 As to the miserable woman whose letter I enclose with a copy of my
24reply to her. She I have never seen & know nothing of except that she
25is the bosom friend of Mrs H Philpot, whom I have refused to meet or
26receive a letter from for 12 years.
27
28 As to her being Unwins agent if she was her conduct was disgraceful. I
29sold Unwin this the end of last year the copy right of my book Dreams,
30& the copy right of my book Dream life, & Real life £60 for the two
31copy rights – just that I might be rid of Unwin & his agents forever.
32 Ellis & all my friends think I was simply mad to do so, but I
33couldn’t have anything more to do with that firm of scoundrels with
34their agents. I cannot think how the woman came to introduce herself
35to you. If there is any chance of her getting of Dot please let Dot
36see this letter.
37
38 Good bye my dear old Pal.
39
40 Will isn’t it strange that I’m only beginning to realize Ellie’s
41death now – my Ellies! Not the poor agonized soul & body for whom
42one is so grateful that it has found the everlasting sleep – but my
43little sister Ellie whom I used to play dolls with & "sisters" at
44Heald town & Witteburg. Whom I shall never see again.
45
46 Good bye dear
47 Olive
48
49 ^I was very sorry for Theo when Innes attacked him so. It is
50heartbreaking when the people you have loved & laboured & sacrificed
51for attack you. It cuts right through your heart. I know it.^
52
53
54
55
2
3 Just as I’d finished my screed to you Cron came in with your so very
4welcome letter & the enclosed – not so welcome.
5
6 It’s lovely about our boy. His is a rare nature. Those wonderful
7gifts of the heart & head combined. I have not heard from Ursie for a
8long long time. Am glad of the news of her. She would never have had
9the strength to go through the terrible nursing course – a doctors
10doesn’t require a 20th of the physical strength. I do hope the
11darling child won’t let her ambition get the better of her & want to
12take the London MB. You can be quite as good a doctor & take the much
13easier entrances say, the College of Preceptors preliminary. How easy
14that is you can think when I tell you that Fred went with me carefully
15over all the papers testing me - & he said (if I didn’t fail in
16spelling – which I wouldn’t I’d take care of that if there were
17any need) – he would easily prepare me to pass in three months even
18with my small knowledge of Latin!! I had only been three times through
19Smith’s Latin Principia by myself! She will have no difficulties
20with the exams if she doesn’t want honours - & a man or woman is no
21better doctor for them!
22
23 As to the miserable woman whose letter I enclose with a copy of my
24reply to her. She I have never seen & know nothing of except that she
25is the bosom friend of Mrs H Philpot, whom I have refused to meet or
26receive a letter from for 12 years.
27
28 As to her being Unwins agent if she was her conduct was disgraceful. I
29sold Unwin this the end of last year the copy right of my book Dreams,
30& the copy right of my book Dream life, & Real life £60 for the two
31copy rights – just that I might be rid of Unwin & his agents forever.
32 Ellis & all my friends think I was simply mad to do so, but I
33couldn’t have anything more to do with that firm of scoundrels with
34their agents. I cannot think how the woman came to introduce herself
35to you. If there is any chance of her getting of Dot please let Dot
36see this letter.
37
38 Good bye my dear old Pal.
39
40 Will isn’t it strange that I’m only beginning to realize Ellie’s
41death now – my Ellies! Not the poor agonized soul & body for whom
42one is so grateful that it has found the everlasting sleep – but my
43little sister Ellie whom I used to play dolls with & "sisters" at
44Heald town & Witteburg. Whom I shall never see again.
45
46 Good bye dear
47 Olive
48
49 ^I was very sorry for Theo when Innes attacked him so. It is
50heartbreaking when the people you have loved & laboured & sacrificed
51for attack you. It cuts right through your heart. I know it.^
52
53
54
55
Notation
'The enclosed' is no longer attached. The book referred to is: William Smith (1906) Principia Latina London: Murray.
'The enclosed' is no longer attached. The book referred to is: William Smith (1906) Principia Latina London: Murray.