"House, James Rose Innes speech, Cronwright-Schreiner's meetings in England" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold4/1901/39 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 11 June 1901 |
| Address From | Hanover, Northern Cape |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Betty Molteno |
| 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. This letter is written on black edged mourning notepaper. The name of the addressee is indicated by salutation.
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1
Hanover
2 June 11 / 01
3
4 Dear Friend,
5
6 I am a little better. I hope we may be able it to get away from here
7soon to some warmer place, but can’t think where to go.
8
9 I send you a letter of Ed Carpenters which may interest you. Destroy
10when read. Much love to you both
11
12 Olive
13
14
15
2 June 11 / 01
3
4 Dear Friend,
5
6 I am a little better. I hope we may be able it to get away from here
7soon to some warmer place, but can’t think where to go.
8
9 I send you a letter of Ed Carpenters which may interest you. Destroy
10when read. Much love to you both
11
12 Olive
13
14
15
Notation
The letter from Edward Carpenter is no longer attached. A letter from Cronwright-Schreiner dated 12 June 1901 immediately follows, commenting that:
‘Olive on the whole is better than when I came up, but she doesn’t really make much progress. This place does not suit her now: she registers the slightest change in the weather like a barometer. She had a very bad time last night: I think it likely we shall go to Victoria West; it is much lower & not nearly so cold as Hanover, and it is drier. My sister at Hopetown would have her, and so would some farmers in this district, but in all cases there are no fireplaces in the sleeping rooms. It is so strange, this omission of fire places, in so bitterly cold a climate as these parts have in the winter. Going to Victoria West is a bit of an experiment, as I hear a spruit runs through the town; but we can’t stay here indefinitely, as it certainly is bad for Olive. We will let you know if you can do anything. What she wants is dry air, warmth and freedom from worry & strain & contact with uncongenial people, & the difficulty is to supply such a want.’
The letter from Edward Carpenter is no longer attached. A letter from Cronwright-Schreiner dated 12 June 1901 immediately follows, commenting that:
‘Olive on the whole is better than when I came up, but she doesn’t really make much progress. This place does not suit her now: she registers the slightest change in the weather like a barometer. She had a very bad time last night: I think it likely we shall go to Victoria West; it is much lower & not nearly so cold as Hanover, and it is drier. My sister at Hopetown would have her, and so would some farmers in this district, but in all cases there are no fireplaces in the sleeping rooms. It is so strange, this omission of fire places, in so bitterly cold a climate as these parts have in the winter. Going to Victoria West is a bit of an experiment, as I hear a spruit runs through the town; but we can’t stay here indefinitely, as it certainly is bad for Olive. We will let you know if you can do anything. What she wants is dry air, warmth and freedom from worry & strain & contact with uncongenial people, & the difficulty is to supply such a want.’