"Dipping pen into ink but really blood" Read the full letter
Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold4/1905/46 |
Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
Epistolary Type | Letter |
Letter Date | 4 November 1905 |
Address From | Hanover, Northern Cape |
Address To | |
Who To | Lyndall (‘Dot’) Schreiner |
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 name of the addressee of this letter is indicated by salutation and content.
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1
Hanover
2 Nov 4th 1905
3
4 My dear Girl
5
6 I have not forgotten the 7th of November. That one day I never forget!
7It seems almost impossible to realize you will be 18. That’s always
8a curiously important time in a woman’s life to me, it’s about the
9dividing line between the girl & the woman. I wish I could see a bit
10more of you now-a-days, I seem to know nothing of you since you’ve
11grown up; & my little baby Dot I shall never see again. If only I were
12still at Matjesfontein where I could sometimes get you for a week end.
13
14 I hope it will go well with the BA exam. I’m glad you’ve given up
15the honours, & very glad you’ve not dropped the exam. altogether.
16I’ve no great affection for the modern system of examinations, they
17don’t give play enough for reason, imagination, powers of original
18thought
19
20^Exams are not in favour with me naturally, because if I’d lived to
21be a hundred & studied all the time spelling with me would always have
22been a matter of chance! Napoleon said "The rules of spelling were
23made for slaves." I’ve always been of his way of thinking, but hope
24for your feelings there are not more than 20 mistakes in this letter. ^
25
26 The kettle is boiling I must go.
27 Good bye.
28
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30
2 Nov 4th 1905
3
4 My dear Girl
5
6 I have not forgotten the 7th of November. That one day I never forget!
7It seems almost impossible to realize you will be 18. That’s always
8a curiously important time in a woman’s life to me, it’s about the
9dividing line between the girl & the woman. I wish I could see a bit
10more of you now-a-days, I seem to know nothing of you since you’ve
11grown up; & my little baby Dot I shall never see again. If only I were
12still at Matjesfontein where I could sometimes get you for a week end.
13
14 I hope it will go well with the BA exam. I’m glad you’ve given up
15the honours, & very glad you’ve not dropped the exam. altogether.
16I’ve no great affection for the modern system of examinations, they
17don’t give play enough for reason, imagination, powers of original
18thought
19
20^Exams are not in favour with me naturally, because if I’d lived to
21be a hundred & studied all the time spelling with me would always have
22been a matter of chance! Napoleon said "The rules of spelling were
23made for slaves." I’ve always been of his way of thinking, but hope
24for your feelings there are not more than 20 mistakes in this letter. ^
25
26 The kettle is boiling I must go.
27 Good bye.
28
29
30