"Citizen franchise league, women here far behind, nothing like England" Read the full letter
Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold4/1897/13 |
Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
Epistolary Type | Letter |
Letter Date | Monday 14 June 1897 |
Address From | London |
Address To | |
Who To | Betty Molteno |
Other Versions | Rive 1987: 311-12 |
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. The date has been written on this letter in an unknown hand. The name of the addressee is indicated by salutation and content. The place is also provided by content.
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1
Monday morning
2
3 Dear Friend
4
5 I enclose you that amusing letter from the clergyman. It’s was so
6good to see you. Cron & I both agreed this morning that you were like
7a fine summer day to come into contact with.
8
9 Give my love to dear Miss Green. I am so very sorry I’ve seen
10nothing of her. We wanted to come & spend a day with her when we were
11at Cambridge. It’s so good to think that South Africa holds you both,
12 & such fine strong women as Mrs Murray. Could you tell me whether
13your boarding house is pretty comfortable, food good &c. &c. & what
14the terms are.
15
16 We shall be spending a couple of weeks with dear little Alice & then
17we sh must move into more central quarters. Partly because this is too
18far out, partly because I have shall be having so many visitors & I
19felt last time the coming & going of so many distressed her & unfitted
20her for her work. It’s so difficult for people who live always in
21England to realize the joy & rest it is one after the loneliness of
22South African life simply to be surrounded with men & women to whom
23you can talk freely on intell all matters & be understood. Seeing
24people is the one thing that gives me rest, & saves me from thinking
25too much.
26
27 I am I had a splendid letter from Will this morning; the dear old
28fellow is going very straight on the Chartered Company matter.
29
30 Good bye dear heart. Don’t think I mind the things they say about me
31& Peter Halket at all. It’s curious I’ve never felt anything. If
32the girls in the street laugh at my hat I feel it because I know my
33hat is shabby. But I’ve a curious feeling about Peter Halket which
34prevent my ever being pained.
35
36 Good bye, dear heart
37 Olive
38
39
40
2
3 Dear Friend
4
5 I enclose you that amusing letter from the clergyman. It’s was so
6good to see you. Cron & I both agreed this morning that you were like
7a fine summer day to come into contact with.
8
9 Give my love to dear Miss Green. I am so very sorry I’ve seen
10nothing of her. We wanted to come & spend a day with her when we were
11at Cambridge. It’s so good to think that South Africa holds you both,
12 & such fine strong women as Mrs Murray. Could you tell me whether
13your boarding house is pretty comfortable, food good &c. &c. & what
14the terms are.
15
16 We shall be spending a couple of weeks with dear little Alice & then
17we sh must move into more central quarters. Partly because this is too
18far out, partly because I have shall be having so many visitors & I
19felt last time the coming & going of so many distressed her & unfitted
20her for her work. It’s so difficult for people who live always in
21England to realize the joy & rest it is one after the loneliness of
22South African life simply to be surrounded with men & women to whom
23you can talk freely on intell all matters & be understood. Seeing
24people is the one thing that gives me rest, & saves me from thinking
25too much.
26
27 I am I had a splendid letter from Will this morning; the dear old
28fellow is going very straight on the Chartered Company matter.
29
30 Good bye dear heart. Don’t think I mind the things they say about me
31& Peter Halket at all. It’s curious I’ve never felt anything. If
32the girls in the street laugh at my hat I feel it because I know my
33hat is shabby. But I’ve a curious feeling about Peter Halket which
34prevent my ever being pained.
35
36 Good bye, dear heart
37 Olive
38
39
40
Notation
The enclosed letter is no longer attached. Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.
The enclosed letter is no longer attached. Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.