"Pen dipped in blood, hasten union" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.23 |
| Archive | National Library of South Africa, Special Collections, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 7 May 1891 |
| Address From | Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Mary Sauer nee Cloete |
| Other Versions | |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), Cape Town, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Special Collections. The date has been written on this letter in an unknown hand. Content indicates Schreiner was in Cape Town when it was written. Schreiner stayed in Cape Town for most of May to August or September 1891.
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1
Dear Mary,
2
3 I am just going down town; shall send the things with this to Mr
4Sauer's office I shall try every where to get the right. If they are
5not quite the colour you will know I could not get better I do hope
6that neuralgia has not turned into influenza. We all have it here from
7Baby upwards & many others in town. I hope you I will enjoy tonight
8dear. If I don't come on Monday to the picnic, please tell Fraulein
9?Loux how much I would like to see more of her, & ask her if she won't
10come & see me. I haven't asked either her or Miss Villiers to see me,
11because I'm always aff afraid of asking people who don't care to come.
12I'm having such a beautiful time you are all so good to me. I love
13your dear old house really & always have a sense of happiness when I
14think of it.
15
16 It is no secret about Mr Forts going to Mashona Land. I am very
17anxious about him. I have seen little of him since he returned from
18England, but he is & will be to me always a dear & favourite brothers.
19It's strange people can't believe in a pure friendship between men &
20women. They have been the most real & beautiful reality in my life,
21much more beautiful than sex love because that is generally selfish
22
23 Olive Schreiner
24
2
3 I am just going down town; shall send the things with this to Mr
4Sauer's office I shall try every where to get the right. If they are
5not quite the colour you will know I could not get better I do hope
6that neuralgia has not turned into influenza. We all have it here from
7Baby upwards & many others in town. I hope you I will enjoy tonight
8dear. If I don't come on Monday to the picnic, please tell Fraulein
9?Loux how much I would like to see more of her, & ask her if she won't
10come & see me. I haven't asked either her or Miss Villiers to see me,
11because I'm always aff afraid of asking people who don't care to come.
12I'm having such a beautiful time you are all so good to me. I love
13your dear old house really & always have a sense of happiness when I
14think of it.
15
16 It is no secret about Mr Forts going to Mashona Land. I am very
17anxious about him. I have seen little of him since he returned from
18England, but he is & will be to me always a dear & favourite brothers.
19It's strange people can't believe in a pure friendship between men &
20women. They have been the most real & beautiful reality in my life,
21much more beautiful than sex love because that is generally selfish
22
23 Olive Schreiner
24