"Will Schreiner's death, first time in 50 years not writing to him on his birthday" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Smuts A1/187/98A |
| Archive | National Archives Repository, Pretoria |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | June 1903 |
| Address From | PO Uitkÿk, Frasersburg Road, Western Cape (now Leeu Gamka, Prince Albert, Western Cape) |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Isie Smuts nee Krige |
| Other Versions | |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to the National Archives Repository, Pretoria, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Special Collections. The month and year have been written on this letter in an unknown hand.
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1
Address
2 P.O. Uitkÿk
3 near Frasersburg Rd
4 Cape Colony
5
6 Dear Isie
7
8 I got your letter just before I left Beaufort for General Malan’s
9Grandfather’s farm where I spent two delightful days. It is away
10among the most beautiful mountains. The old Grandfather is 84 & almost
11childish though he must have been a wonderfully fine man in his youth.
12But a most beautiful & interesting young aunt of Malan’s who is a
13widow keeps house for the old man & looks after him. She & Malan & the
14old man forming the family. It is beautiful to see "our" Malan at his
15farm work. Im so glad he’s there & not in a town. I took his aunt
16back ^with^ me to Beaufort for a few days, as she had been there once
17before the war. She has had a hard time doing all the working &
18washing & housecleaning all through the war for the old man & all
19Malans little brother’s & sisters who were with her all through the
20war. I wish you would see her. She is such a beautiful strong woman, I
21mean strong in heart as well as in body. One doesn’t wonder at Malan
22being what he is when he has such female relations.
23
24 Miss Emily Hobhouse spent two days with me in Beaufort. You will see
25her in Pretoria soon. She gave me £10 ^of the money she has brought out^
26to buy a washing machine for the wife of one of our men who was shot
27in Hanover & who has to make her living by washing. I am very glad
28about it.
29
30 Now I have come out to a farm called Uitkÿk belonging to a Mr Le Roux
31where they take boarders. If I don’t get asthma here I shall stay
32here for a couple of months & try to do a little writing. It is a nice
33place with a beautiful view of the mountains, now all covered with
34snow.
35
36 My Husband writes me that he is much better. But he looks terribly ill
37& aged.
38
39 My dear friends Miss Molteno & Miss Greene are spending a few days
40with me here: it is so delightful to have them. I shall miss them much
41when they go. I have got mY three meerkats & my little dog with me.
42
43
44^I wish I could see you; there is so much I should like to say, & to
45hear. Writing is no good. Much love to you all. ^
46
47 Olive Schreiner
48
49
50
2 P.O. Uitkÿk
3 near Frasersburg Rd
4 Cape Colony
5
6 Dear Isie
7
8 I got your letter just before I left Beaufort for General Malan’s
9Grandfather’s farm where I spent two delightful days. It is away
10among the most beautiful mountains. The old Grandfather is 84 & almost
11childish though he must have been a wonderfully fine man in his youth.
12But a most beautiful & interesting young aunt of Malan’s who is a
13widow keeps house for the old man & looks after him. She & Malan & the
14old man forming the family. It is beautiful to see "our" Malan at his
15farm work. Im so glad he’s there & not in a town. I took his aunt
16back ^with^ me to Beaufort for a few days, as she had been there once
17before the war. She has had a hard time doing all the working &
18washing & housecleaning all through the war for the old man & all
19Malans little brother’s & sisters who were with her all through the
20war. I wish you would see her. She is such a beautiful strong woman, I
21mean strong in heart as well as in body. One doesn’t wonder at Malan
22being what he is when he has such female relations.
23
24 Miss Emily Hobhouse spent two days with me in Beaufort. You will see
25her in Pretoria soon. She gave me £10 ^of the money she has brought out^
26to buy a washing machine for the wife of one of our men who was shot
27in Hanover & who has to make her living by washing. I am very glad
28about it.
29
30 Now I have come out to a farm called Uitkÿk belonging to a Mr Le Roux
31where they take boarders. If I don’t get asthma here I shall stay
32here for a couple of months & try to do a little writing. It is a nice
33place with a beautiful view of the mountains, now all covered with
34snow.
35
36 My Husband writes me that he is much better. But he looks terribly ill
37& aged.
38
39 My dear friends Miss Molteno & Miss Greene are spending a few days
40with me here: it is so delightful to have them. I shall miss them much
41when they go. I have got mY three meerkats & my little dog with me.
42
43
44^I wish I could see you; there is so much I should like to say, & to
45hear. Writing is no good. Much love to you all. ^
46
47 Olive Schreiner
48
49
50