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Letter ReferenceOlive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/19
ArchiveUniversity of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter Date16 August 1908
Address FromCape Town, Western Cape
Address ToKnor Hoek, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Western Cape
Who ToJulia Solly nee Muspratt
Other Versions
PermissionsPlease 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 of this letter has been derived from the postmark on an attached envelope, while the address it was sent to is on its front. Schreiner stayed in Cape Town from mid June to mid August 1908.
1 Dear Mrs Solly
2
3 I will try to find two Dutch ladies who will be willing to be vice
4presidents; but I couldn’t possibly have just their names put in the
5^printed^ paper till the vote of all members of the society had been
6taken at a general meeting could I? It is a pity the General Meeting
7is not coming soon. But there is no harm in waiting a few months.
8Things grow strongest that grow slowest in this country
9
10 I hope you understand about Mrs Macfadyen. I think she is out & away
11the most interesting & bright woman we have & as secretary would be
12absolutely ideal. A woman must have push, & go, & energy, & knowledge
13to be a secretary.
14
15 The president is a mere figure head, whose name is valuable at the
16head of your printed papers as giving tone & standing by her position
17& character to the organization. She need never speaks & has no more
18control or right as far as I can see than any private member has
19except, that is, as chairman in official meetings when she happens to
20be present. The secretary, according to my ideas, & the custom in all
21men’s associations, that is the person to be notified if people get
22up drawingroom
23
24^meetings &c. Now Mrs Macfadyen was been elected she should certainly
25remain president till the general meeting which she tells me takes
26place next April, I think; then the members can vote by ballot for any
27members they want as officials? I am sure people will get to
28understand Mrs Macfadyen better as time passes. ^
29
30 Yours ever
31 Olive Schreiner
32
33 ^We have to educate women slowly & carefully, making no mistakes in
34rushing things, I think. This is a strange country.^
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