"Wicked mad diplomacy, lying & darkness" Read the full letter
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Letter ReferenceOlive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold3/1904/44
ArchiveUniversity of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter DateSaturday 17 September 1904
Address FromTamboer’s Kloof Road, Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape
Address To
Who ToAlice Greene
Other Versions
PermissionsPlease 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.
1 Tambour’s Kloof Rd
2 Saturday night
3
4 Dear Friend
5
6 I was so sorry I couldn’t come & see you off, but Neta has been very
7bad. The Doctors say she can’t live long & can’t be helped. I am
8returning to Hanover by Wednesdays train. Hanover seems quite a
9different place since you were there. Now I know you can come! It not
10quite cut off from the outer world.
11
12 It’s been a very sad time here. Except that day I went to Anna
13Purcell’s
I’ve seen no one. Not a human being has been to see me
14since you were here except an old German professor, who translated one
15of my articles into German he says. I am so longing to know what you
16think of unreadable Kraal? Do drop me a line & tell me. Also when you
17think of leaving for England.
18
19 Good bye, my dear, dear, friends.
20 Olive
21
22 I went to see Mrs Cartwright but she met me very coolly. ^did not speak
23one word to me all the time I was there only talked & answered Anna.
24Didn’t even answer my remarks when I spoke.^ I can only think some
25one must have repeated to her what I said about not caring much for
26the news.
27
28 And yet I’ve never breathed a word about it except you & Miss
29Molteno
& Anna Purcell, none of whom would repeat it. May not Miss
30Kensit have over heard something you were saying to each other, &
31repeated it?
32
33 It is wonderful what a little gossiping world this is. There
34
35^must be a solution to the mystery some where why all people on the
36South African side turn from me with shrinking as they do.^
37
38You will love staying at Anna Purcells. The place is too beautiful for
39words but I feel very bad there.
40
41Good bye, my sweet friends.
42
43 I wonder if the wounds in the dear heart will be a little healed when
44you go & see the old house. I think I should feel more restful after
45than if I were you. I have to see every thing (even an empty place) &
46realize it to the full before I can rest. I hope Hellen will come out,
47I have a feeling she will.
48
49
50