"Barrenness middle class women's lives" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Milner Papers, dep. 213, ff. 288-290 |
| Archive | Special Collections, Bodleian Library, University of Oxford |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 23 May 1900 |
| Address From | Wagenaars Kraal, Three Sisters, Northern Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Alfred Milner |
| Other Versions | |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, and the Warden and Scholars of New College, Oxford, for permission to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of their Special Collections.
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1Wagenaar’s Kraal
2Three Sisters
3May 23 / 00
4
5Dear Sir Alfred Milner
6
7You will no doubt be surprised at my writing to you, especially as it
8is to ask a favour, but it is not a favour for myself.
9
10There is a delicate young Doctor staying here; he is he is consumptive.
11 He lived for a year in Reddersburg in the FreeState, but left before
12the war broke out leaving all his medical books instruments &
13household goods there, as he is strongly opposed to the Boers & did
14not wish to stay. He is now very anxious to get back to fetch his
15instruments &c & see how it goes with his household effects. He says
16he has written several times, but has not been able to get a pass, as
17many other people have been able to do. I have thought it was just
18possible that if I wrote & told you he was a violent Jingo (I know you
19will believe me as I should you) it might help him to get a pass, as
20the authorities may be withholding it not knowing his views. He and I
21are so opposed in politics that we never refer to them.
22
23I enclose his application. He has only been a few years in this
24country.
25
26You will perhaps be surprised at an enemy’s asking a favour of you,
27even for another person; but I am not your enemy if only you knew it!
28One day you will discover that the Uitlander knot were your enemies, &
29that I, if you would have allowed me would have pe been your loyal
30friend, tried to be.
31
32Yours faithfully,
33Olive Schreiner
34
35Do unreadable
36
2Three Sisters
3May 23 / 00
4
5Dear Sir Alfred Milner
6
7You will no doubt be surprised at my writing to you, especially as it
8is to ask a favour, but it is not a favour for myself.
9
10There is a delicate young Doctor staying here; he is he is consumptive.
11 He lived for a year in Reddersburg in the FreeState, but left before
12the war broke out leaving all his medical books instruments &
13household goods there, as he is strongly opposed to the Boers & did
14not wish to stay. He is now very anxious to get back to fetch his
15instruments &c & see how it goes with his household effects. He says
16he has written several times, but has not been able to get a pass, as
17many other people have been able to do. I have thought it was just
18possible that if I wrote & told you he was a violent Jingo (I know you
19will believe me as I should you) it might help him to get a pass, as
20the authorities may be withholding it not knowing his views. He and I
21are so opposed in politics that we never refer to them.
22
23I enclose his application. He has only been a few years in this
24country.
25
26You will perhaps be surprised at an enemy’s asking a favour of you,
27even for another person; but I am not your enemy if only you knew it!
28One day you will discover that the Uitlander knot were your enemies, &
29that I, if you would have allowed me would have pe been your loyal
30friend, tried to be.
31
32Yours faithfully,
33Olive Schreiner
34
35Do unreadable
36