"Nasty blow, political instinct" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | HRC/CAT/OS/1b-x |
| Archive | Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | Friday 25 July 1884 |
| Address From | Bolehill, Wirksworth, Derbyshire |
| Address To | 24 Thornsett Road, South Penge Park, London |
| Who To | Havelock Ellis |
| Other Versions | Cronwright-Schreiner 1924: 34; Rive 1987: 48-9; Draznin 1992: 111-12 |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University of Texas at Austin, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscript Collections. The address this letter was sent to has been supplied by an associated envelope.
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1Bole Hill
2July 25 / 84
3Friday
4
5I won’t say all I’ve got to say, just cram away for that old exam now,
6darling. I don’t understand your life quite, yet, but it seems to me
7that for the next couple of years your medical studies ought to stand
8a good bit to the fore. You will reap the benefit of them mentally, &
9in increased usefullness to others, & in many ways bye & bye.
10
11Oh, that was a sweet little story that came to me last night. Just
12like the one in the ^school^ Mag it is in character but much nicer. It
13is such a beautiful evening, & such a still light on the grass. Do you
14know that snuffing quinine does me such wonderful good. As soon as
15leave it off my chest gets asthma; isn’t that funny? I am very well;
16^shall^ be such a strong girl by the time you come! Forget me &
17everything for a day or two.
18
19^Your,^
20Olive
21
22^Nice you should do me good.^
23
24^You shall have such a rest when you come here. He shall be petted so.^
25
26^I’m saving it all up.^
27
2July 25 / 84
3Friday
4
5I won’t say all I’ve got to say, just cram away for that old exam now,
6darling. I don’t understand your life quite, yet, but it seems to me
7that for the next couple of years your medical studies ought to stand
8a good bit to the fore. You will reap the benefit of them mentally, &
9in increased usefullness to others, & in many ways bye & bye.
10
11Oh, that was a sweet little story that came to me last night. Just
12like the one in the ^school^ Mag it is in character but much nicer. It
13is such a beautiful evening, & such a still light on the grass. Do you
14know that snuffing quinine does me such wonderful good. As soon as
15leave it off my chest gets asthma; isn’t that funny? I am very well;
16^shall^ be such a strong girl by the time you come! Forget me &
17everything for a day or two.
18
19^Your,^
20Olive
21
22^Nice you should do me good.^
23
24^You shall have such a rest when you come here. He shall be petted so.^
25
26^I’m saving it all up.^
27
Notation
The ‘sweet little story’ Schreiner was writing cannot be established but a number of her allegories were published in the New College Magazine. Draznin’s (1992) version of this letter is different in some respects from our transcription. Rive’s (1987) version omits part of the letter and is in a number of other respects incorrect. Cronwright-Schreiner’s (1924) extract is incorrect in various ways.
The ‘sweet little story’ Schreiner was writing cannot be established but a number of her allegories were published in the New College Magazine. Draznin’s (1992) version of this letter is different in some respects from our transcription. Rive’s (1987) version omits part of the letter and is in a number of other respects incorrect. Cronwright-Schreiner’s (1924) extract is incorrect in various ways.