"Heart dying up last 5 or 6 years, 'Soul of a People' like rain falling on dry parched soil" Read the full letter
Letter Reference | Edward Carpenter 359/64 |
Archive | Sheffield Archives, Archives & Local Studies, Sheffield |
Epistolary Type | Letter |
Letter Date | Sunday 7 August 1893 |
Address From | Millthorpe, Holmesfield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
Address To | |
Who To | Edward Carpenter |
Other Versions | Rive 1987: 223-4 |
Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
Legend |
The Project is grateful to the Sheffield Archives, Sheffield Libraries, Archives and Information Services, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Archive Collections. The date has been written on this letter in an unknown hand.
|
1
Millthorpe
2 Sunday
3
4 Dear EC.
5
6 This place does suit me better than any place I’ve ever been in in
7England. I shall stay here as long as I can. I’ve got a little
8cottage just down the road for three weeks, I can’t have it for
9longer, but am so glad to have it for that time. I’m not sure
10whether what I like best is the Adam’s, the Salts, the air or
11Smeetly wood. I like it all. Smeetly wood is the first place I’ve
12been in in England in which I’ve had the same sense of free-ness, &
13near-ness to nature I had at the Cape. You must come out to the Cape E.
14C. Come when I go. You can go & stay at my friend’s farm. I think
15you’ll love him. He’s a young man of thirty, a farmer in the
16Karroo. He’s got lots of Kaffir’s for you to study & you won’t
17mind the wild simple life in a little mudfloored cabin as most would.
18Millthorp reminds me a little of our farm life in Africa. I’m not
19able to stand artificial civilization without getting depressed.
20
21 I’m sleeping in your room. I’m not a bit of a communist in my
22feeling that each & every human creature should have a little spot of
23earth of their own. It’s happier for all. I love Millthorpe ever so
24much more because I know this little bit of earth does belong to you.
25I only wish every-body had a little spot of earth somewhere! You must
26come & see my farm at the Cape Ed if I settle down there as I think I
27shall. You’ll like it as much as I do Millthorpe. Alice is looking
28so well & strong in the two days we’ve been here. I like Adam’s
29wife so much. She’s such a sweet creature. Good bye dear old man;
30we’ll be glad to see you back.
31
32 Olive
33
34
35
2 Sunday
3
4 Dear EC.
5
6 This place does suit me better than any place I’ve ever been in in
7England. I shall stay here as long as I can. I’ve got a little
8cottage just down the road for three weeks, I can’t have it for
9longer, but am so glad to have it for that time. I’m not sure
10whether what I like best is the Adam’s, the Salts, the air or
11Smeetly wood. I like it all. Smeetly wood is the first place I’ve
12been in in England in which I’ve had the same sense of free-ness, &
13near-ness to nature I had at the Cape. You must come out to the Cape E.
14C. Come when I go. You can go & stay at my friend’s farm. I think
15you’ll love him. He’s a young man of thirty, a farmer in the
16Karroo. He’s got lots of Kaffir’s for you to study & you won’t
17mind the wild simple life in a little mudfloored cabin as most would.
18Millthorp reminds me a little of our farm life in Africa. I’m not
19able to stand artificial civilization without getting depressed.
20
21 I’m sleeping in your room. I’m not a bit of a communist in my
22feeling that each & every human creature should have a little spot of
23earth of their own. It’s happier for all. I love Millthorpe ever so
24much more because I know this little bit of earth does belong to you.
25I only wish every-body had a little spot of earth somewhere! You must
26come & see my farm at the Cape Ed if I settle down there as I think I
27shall. You’ll like it as much as I do Millthorpe. Alice is looking
28so well & strong in the two days we’ve been here. I like Adam’s
29wife so much. She’s such a sweet creature. Good bye dear old man;
30we’ll be glad to see you back.
31
32 Olive
33
34
35
Notation
Rive's (1987) version has been misdated, omits part of this letter, and is also in a number of respects incorrect.
Rive's (1987) version has been misdated, omits part of this letter, and is also in a number of respects incorrect.