"Place with husband, Betty Molteno needs new world" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold3/1900/6 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | Saturday February 1900 |
| Address From | Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Frances ('Fan') Schreiner nee Reitz |
| Other Versions | |
| 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 month and year have been written on this letter in an unknown hand. Schreiner stayed in Cape Town from late November 1899 to mid February 1900.
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1
Saturday
2
3 Dear old Fan,
4
5 I’ve been so unfit I haven’t been able to come & see you or write. I
6am better today with the change to rain but am making arrangements to
7get away up-country as I’ve g been getting steadily worse since Cron
8went. I wired to Beaufort West, but they can’t take me there at the
9sanatorium so Emma has written to Wagenaar’s Kraal for me. I’ll write
10to you as soon as I hear. I did so wish to have stayed here a few
11weeks longer to finish my article its nearly done, & then my book
12would be ready. I feel quite hopeful about public matters. We may have
13terrible times to pass through, but lies & falsehood cannot conquer,
14because the Universe is not made so.
15
16 Its such a joy to see my Ollie boy every day, he’s so sweet & good. If
17he is allowed to stay & play with his soldier a little &c, can he, or
18would you rather he always caught that train?
19
20 I am so afraid of your being anxious about him if he stays. Good bye
21dear. I know how great is the strain upon you when you think of your
22dear ones in the Transvaal but all will be well with them in the end.
23
24 Olive
25
26 Cron had a fine time on Board ship. Was chosen chairman of the sports
27& entertainment committees, as the Duke of Westminster was in mourning.
28 Won some prizes
29
30 ^at the sports & danced at two balls. His letter was from Madeira.^
31
32
33
2
3 Dear old Fan,
4
5 I’ve been so unfit I haven’t been able to come & see you or write. I
6am better today with the change to rain but am making arrangements to
7get away up-country as I’ve g been getting steadily worse since Cron
8went. I wired to Beaufort West, but they can’t take me there at the
9sanatorium so Emma has written to Wagenaar’s Kraal for me. I’ll write
10to you as soon as I hear. I did so wish to have stayed here a few
11weeks longer to finish my article its nearly done, & then my book
12would be ready. I feel quite hopeful about public matters. We may have
13terrible times to pass through, but lies & falsehood cannot conquer,
14because the Universe is not made so.
15
16 Its such a joy to see my Ollie boy every day, he’s so sweet & good. If
17he is allowed to stay & play with his soldier a little &c, can he, or
18would you rather he always caught that train?
19
20 I am so afraid of your being anxious about him if he stays. Good bye
21dear. I know how great is the strain upon you when you think of your
22dear ones in the Transvaal but all will be well with them in the end.
23
24 Olive
25
26 Cron had a fine time on Board ship. Was chosen chairman of the sports
27& entertainment committees, as the Duke of Westminster was in mourning.
28 Won some prizes
29
30 ^at the sports & danced at two balls. His letter was from Madeira.^
31
32
33
Notation
The article and prospective book referred to probably refers to 'Stray Thoughts on South Africa' and the essays originally published pseudonymously as by 'A Returned South African'. Although prepared for book publication, a dispute with a US publisher and also the events of the South African War prevented this. They and some other essays were posthumously published as Thoughts on South Africa.
The article and prospective book referred to probably refers to 'Stray Thoughts on South Africa' and the essays originally published pseudonymously as by 'A Returned South African'. Although prepared for book publication, a dispute with a US publisher and also the events of the South African War prevented this. They and some other essays were posthumously published as Thoughts on South Africa.