"Nasty blow, political instinct" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold4/1897/1 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 29 January 1897 |
| Address From | 19 Russell Road, Kensington, London |
| Address To | |
| Who To | William Philip ('Will') Schreiner |
| Other Versions | Rive 1987: 300 |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to Manuscripts and Archives, University of Cape Town, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscripts and Archives Collections. Schreiner has misdated this letter 1896 but clearly it should be 1897. The letter is written on printed headed notepaper.
|
1
19 Russell Road,
2 Kensington,
3 W.
4Jan 29 / 96
5
6 My dear Laddie
7
8 You may have left by the time this reaches you, so I only write a line.
9 I did not speak to Rhodes on board ship, nor bow to him.
10
11 He said he h through Lady Grey, ^& his sister^ that he wished to
12be friends & have some talks with me. But I told them that it was
13better we should not meet as I should attack him!! Miss Rhodes told me
14that he was so afraid of me that he dared not come & wash his hands in
15his own cabin because he had to pass my cabin & might meet me. I told
16her I should not speak to him nor see him, he had no need to be afraid.
17 I have seen a great many interesting men (John Morley is coming to
18see me tomorrow) but as you are so soon coming I needn’t tell you of
19things.
20
21 I wish you could have come while we were here.
22
23 My little book comes out on the 17th of February. I do I was offered
24£2000 (two thousand) if I would take out a few passages which of
25course I wouldn’t so I’ve only got £1,400. The de publishers are
26afraid of the libel action. I am myself doubtful whether Rhodes will
27dare to appear in a law court.
28
29 I am very near breaking down with weariness so I can’t write more.
30My love to Fan & the small folk.
31
32 Fred & Emma came up to see me today
33
34 Olive
35
36 ^Write to me^
37
38 Private
39 I had a long talk with Lady Loch; they are very bitter against Rhodes.
40
41
42
2 Kensington,
3 W.
4Jan 29 / 96
5
6 My dear Laddie
7
8 You may have left by the time this reaches you, so I only write a line.
9 I did not speak to Rhodes on board ship, nor bow to him.
10
11 He said he h through Lady Grey, ^& his sister^ that he wished to
12be friends & have some talks with me. But I told them that it was
13better we should not meet as I should attack him!! Miss Rhodes told me
14that he was so afraid of me that he dared not come & wash his hands in
15his own cabin because he had to pass my cabin & might meet me. I told
16her I should not speak to him nor see him, he had no need to be afraid.
17 I have seen a great many interesting men (John Morley is coming to
18see me tomorrow) but as you are so soon coming I needn’t tell you of
19things.
20
21 I wish you could have come while we were here.
22
23 My little book comes out on the 17th of February. I do I was offered
24£2000 (two thousand) if I would take out a few passages which of
25course I wouldn’t so I’ve only got £1,400. The de publishers are
26afraid of the libel action. I am myself doubtful whether Rhodes will
27dare to appear in a law court.
28
29 I am very near breaking down with weariness so I can’t write more.
30My love to Fan & the small folk.
31
32 Fred & Emma came up to see me today
33
34 Olive
35
36 ^Write to me^
37
38 Private
39 I had a long talk with Lady Loch; they are very bitter against Rhodes.
40
41
42
Notation
The reference to 'My little book' is to Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland. Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter.
The reference to 'My little book' is to Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland. Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter.