"Affection, farm for sale, go mad here" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold1/Jan-June1899/22 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 20 May 1899 |
| Address From | Johannesburg, Transvaal |
| Address To | Girls Collegiate School, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape |
| Who To | Betty Molteno |
| Other Versions | Rive 1987: 353 |
| 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 name of the addressee and the address this letter was sent to are provided by an attached envelope. Schreiner was resident in Berea, Johannesburg, from December 1898 until late August 1899.
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1
May 20 / 99
2
3 Dear Friend
4
5 By the end of this week I hope to send you my article on the war
6question. Can you understand with what a terrible sense of
7responsibility I wrote it. "The thoughts of my heart enlighten thou."
8If all is lost we shall yet feel we have done all we can.
9
10 Good bye dear beautiful soul.
11 Olive
12
13 I have only seen one number of the African News as I cannot spare time
14to go to the library. If there is anything of special interest in it
15at any time, send me the copy. Cron sends love to you both. You would
16love Mrs Smuts, the state attorney’s young wife. She reminds me of
17you.
18
2
3 Dear Friend
4
5 By the end of this week I hope to send you my article on the war
6question. Can you understand with what a terrible sense of
7responsibility I wrote it. "The thoughts of my heart enlighten thou."
8If all is lost we shall yet feel we have done all we can.
9
10 Good bye dear beautiful soul.
11 Olive
12
13 I have only seen one number of the African News as I cannot spare time
14to go to the library. If there is anything of special interest in it
15at any time, send me the copy. Cron sends love to you both. You would
16love Mrs Smuts, the state attorney’s young wife. She reminds me of
17you.
18
Notation
The 'article on the war question' referred to is An English South African's View of the Situation, originally published in the South African News over three successive days; see 'Words in Season. An English South African's View of the Situation' South African News 1 June 1899 (p.8), 2 June 1899 (p.8) and 3 June 1899 (also p.8). It then was published as a pamphlet, then as a book. A second edition of the book was ready but withdrawn from publication by Schreiner when the South African War started in October 1899, so as not to profit from this. Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.
The 'article on the war question' referred to is An English South African's View of the Situation, originally published in the South African News over three successive days; see 'Words in Season. An English South African's View of the Situation' South African News 1 June 1899 (p.8), 2 June 1899 (p.8) and 3 June 1899 (also p.8). It then was published as a pamphlet, then as a book. A second edition of the book was ready but withdrawn from publication by Schreiner when the South African War started in October 1899, so as not to profit from this. Rive's (1987) version omits part of this letter and is also in a number of respects incorrect.