"Since war, people pass on street, wealth is friends, health" Read the full letter
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Letter ReferenceOlive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/m
ArchiveNational English Literary Museum, Grahamstown
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter Date29 April 1913
Address FromDe Aar, Northern Cape
Address To
Who ToEdward Carpenter
Other VersionsCronwright-Schreiner 1924: 324-5
PermissionsPlease read before using or citing this transcription
Legend
The Project is grateful to the National English Literary Museum (NELM) for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscript Collections.
1 De Aar
2 April 29 / 13
3 /13
4
5 My dear old Edward
6
7 I wonder how the world goes with you. I often wonder just what your
8feeling about the suffragettes is. Every year my horror not only of
9war, but of the argument of brute force all round grows stronger &
10stronger. If ever was the exercise of force was justified it is in the
11case of millions of women fighting from freedom. But is it ever
12justified - are not the evils greater than good? Cromwell, Washington
13all the worlds heroes who fought for freedom were they justified? I
14see so much to be said on both sides. Now I can only say I am for
15passive resistance, but I dare not condemn those who are not. Of
16course theres the narrow question of tactics - is it wise - even if
17right - at any given time to fight?
18
19 Things as far as the working classes in England go seem advancing
20quickly. But the fight for freedom will have to go on through the
21centuries, because as soon as one class or party or race becomes
22dominant it oppresses the others. Look at our Dutch here?? But one day,
23 far away I guess we shall come to a full bloom.
24
25 I've no news of myself to give your. We are still living in our little
26cottage in De Aar with the sand & deserts about us, all in the old way.
27 Cron thinks of going for a visit of some months to Europe this year,
28but I can't afford to. Perhaps he will see you if he comes. Its sad to
29think good old George Adams is gone.
30
31 Thin ever as of old
32 Olive
33
Notation
Cronwright-Schreiner's (1924) version of this letter is incorrect in various respects.