"Saddest & loneliest old years eve, old days at Heald Town" Read the full letter
William Thomas Stead
William Thomas (W.T.) Stead (1849-1912) was a prominent British journalist, high profile newspaper editor and social reform campaigner. He was Editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, a force to be politically reckoned with under his editorship, from 1880 to 1890, and then Editor of the Review of Reviews. Starting with the first Hague conference in 1898-9, Stead later began focusing more of his energies on the cause of peace, and he became a redoubtable opponent of the South African War (1899-1902), leading to breaches with friends such as Alfred Milner and also Cecil Rhodes. He was also a deeply religious man, and an oddly naive believer in spiritualism. Stead was a passenger on the maiden voyage of the Titanic; giving up any chance of a place in a lifeboat to women and children, the last glimpse of Stead is provided by a survivor who saw him standing with the ship’s orchestra singing the hymn ‘Nearer my God to thee’ as it was sinking.
Stead was a man addicted to ‘causes’, to taking up social and political issues with both zeal and considerable prowess, and was an effective, influential campaigner. Perhaps the best known of these campaigns now concerns his ‘Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon’ series of articles in the Pall Mall Gazette in 1885, documenting his purchase from her parents of an under-aged girl, implicitly for sexual purposes, but with Stead in fact entrusting the girl to the care overnight of a woman companion, as part of his attack on the hypocrisy of prevailing sexual mores and the routine sexual exploitation of under-age children (the then age of sexual consent for girls was 13, later raised to 16). Stead was then arrested, tried and given a prison sentence in spite of the proofs he provided - the male establishment had not approved of his making so public what had been salaciously private. These events had much importance for the Men and Women’s Club, given that women’s (and girls’) position generally and, as Schreiner put it, the role of men in the problem of woman, was its core concern. The effects on various Club members - for instance, the very different reactions of Karl Pearson and Havelock Ellis, the appalled horror of some of the women, and Schreiner’s role in collecting signatures for a petition of support for Stead - are documented elsewhere in Schreiner’s letters. One result was a friendship between Schreiner and Stead, on her part with great admiration for his campaigning mixed with dislike of his rather fundamentalist Christianity, naïve belief in spiritualism and, most of all, his impassioned support for Cecil Rhodes as the admired great imperialist.
The extant letters are in fact microfilmed copies with the whereabouts of the originals unknown, but with there being many signs that these were part of an originally far greater number. They contain many interesting insights into Schreiner’s changing and always quite complex view of Rhodes, and also provide vital insights into the genesis and development of her ‘Returned South African’ essays, with another topic being Stead he should ‘forgive’ the politician Charles Dilke, who had been prosecuted in a rather grubby divorce case by separating Dilke’s sexual frailties from his considerable political strengths, rather than dog him in newspaper commentary. What this raises is the complexity of the three Steads - Stead the man who was wide, generous and encompassing in his views, Stead the religious believer who held narrowly puritanical and sometimes superstitious beliefs, and Stead the journalist and his frequent less than ethical use of privy information. Regarding the latter, many of Schreiner’s letters to Stead contain requests that he is not to use or publish things she has said or told him about. There was an edge to Stead’s view of Olive Schreiner too: “Long ago, when first I had the pleasure of meeting the authoress of “A South African Farm,” she impressed me beyond everything else as “The Categorical Imperative in Petticoats” ...” (Review of Reviews July 1896 p.48).
For further information see:
Joseph O. Baylen (2004) ‘Stead, William Thomas (1849-1912)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36258
Grace Eckley (2007) Maiden Tribute: A Life of W.T. Stead Philadelphia: XLibris
R. L. Shults (1972) Crusader in Babylon: W. T. Stead and the Pall Mall Gazette Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press
F. Whyte (1925) The Life of W. T. Stead (2 volumes) London: Jonathan Cape
Recipient Of
- National Archives Depot, Pretoria: The National Archives Depot is Pretoria is a leading location for archival papers across a wide time-period, organisations an... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/1- pages 39-41:Mentone, I am very glad to hear about Greenwood., I shall never be of much use to your paper, but you & it will be follow...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/2- pages 42-4 & 218-220:25 Montague St., Russell Sq., Tuesday, Dear Mr Stead, Your letter after wandering all over Europe has just this moment reache...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/3- pages 45-6:Ladies Chambers, Chenies St., Thursday Night., My dear Mr Stead, My article is not coming out in this months Fortnightly, I h...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/5- pages 55-7:Matjesfontein, Ap May 9 / 90, Dear Friend, I hear there is a notice of my Allegory in the Review of Reviews but haven’t...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/6- pages 58-61:Thank you, good friend, for your letter. But your last two letters don’t seem like you. Perhaps it is only their being ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/7- pages 62-5:My dear Friend,, Reading Booths book puts you much in my thought. The book is splendid the idea is necess-ary. I suppose if s...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/8- pages 66-9 & 227-8:Matjesfontein, July 12 / 90, My dear Friend, I must drop you one word to say how very much I am satisfied & pleased with ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/9- pages 70-1:Cape Town, July 1st 1891, My very dear Friend, The article did not appear in the Fortnightly. Please don’t notice it ti...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/10- pages 72-3:Matjesfontein, February 4 / 91, Dear Friend, I send you a little story I wrote many years ago. Don’t know if I showed i...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/11- pages 74-5 & 249-250:Address to Kimberley, The Kowie, Jan 4 / 95, Dear Friend, Your likeness is splendid. You as I like to remember you as you sat...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/12- pages 76-9:Matjesfontein, March 15 / 91, None of this to be printed, Thank you for letter. I am glad you have made an alliance with Rhod...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/13- pages 80-1:Matjesfontein Cottage, Top of Gardens, Cape Town, May 6 / 91, My dear Friend, Your letters always come for like a breath from...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/14- pages 82-5:Matjesfontein, March 31 / 91, Dear Friend, I have read your article on Madame Novikoff. It is splendid, fas-cinating, intense...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/15- pages 86-7:Matjesfontein, Nov 23 / 91, Dear Friend, Thank you for your letter. As always it was refreshing. I have no news to give you. ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/16- pages 88-95:Matjesfontein, June 19 / 92, Dear Friend, As I am writing letters this evening, & don’t know when I shall be in the...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/17- pages 96-7:page/s missing, never offended with you; always believe in your goodness & faithfulness to your friends however however m...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/18- pages 98-100:Matjesfontein, Sep 6 / 92., My dear Friend, I am sending this note home by my youngest brother. I want him very much to meet ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/19- pages 101-6:Matjesfontein, Oct 12 / 92., My dear Friend, I send you here – with a photo of mine; I myself shall turn up in London a...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/20- pages 107-110 & 215-16:Private, Middelburg, Feb 19 / 93., Dear Friend, Thank you for your letter., I shall be home by the 2nd week in May. Yes, I ho...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/21- pages 111-16 & pages 253-4:Middelburg, Jan 10 / 95, Thank you, dear friend, for Blastus. It opens up so many interesting questions that I cannot enter u...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/22- pages 117-18:The Homestead, Kimberley, August 26 / 95, Dear Friend,, I send you a copy of our paper on the Political Situation at the Cape...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/23- page 119:The Homestead, Oct 2 / 95, Dear Friend, I got the Rev= of Rev=s yesterday & I am delighted with your article on Kama. It ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/24- page 120:page/s missing, Your penny Poets are first rate. We have them all. I hope you got f the photos I sent you., Yours ever, Olive...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/25- pages 121-122:Nov 22 / 95, Dear Friend, It has been a great pleasure to my husband & to myself to see your boy. He’s manly, strai...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/26- pages 123-126:Private, The Homestead, Nov 16 / 96, My dear Friend, Your letter somewhat amused me! My financial affairs are from from my st...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/27- pages 127-128:Did you get the photos? Please send card with answer as I sent off a number by same mail & no one seems to have got them....
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/28- pages 129-130:I’m sending you a little African view., I am expecting a fierce attack from you about my article in the Fortnightly, bu...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/29- pages 131-134:New College Junior School,, Eastbourne., Feb 4 / 96, Dear Friend, I shall not be in London this week I am sorry to say. We re...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/30- pages 135-136:Private, The Homestead, Dec 27 / 96, My dear Friend, We are, as think I told you when I wrote six weeks ago, sailing on the 6...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/31- pages 137-140:The Homestead, Sep 20 / 96, Dear Friend, I enclose you some cuttings in case you should hear a wrong version of the matter. B...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/32- pages 141-144:19 Russell Rd, Kensington, Feb 20 / 97, My dear old Friend, You are curiously mistaken if you fancy that I think the white me...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/33- pages 145-150:Morley’s Hotel, Trafalgar Sq, July 8 / 97, My dear old Friend, It was indeed a pleasure to see you; Thankyou for coming...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/34- pages 151-153, 155, 156:Hanover, Jan 10 / 02, Dear Friend, I have wanted so to write to you for a long time, but I feel no faith in any letter of min...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/35- pages 157-8:Hanover Cape Colony, Jan 12 / 03 , Dear Friend, Your Annual has come. I always am one with you on the woman question. Thank y...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/36- pages 159-160:Hanover, Cape Colony, June 18 / 04, Dear Friend, Your note & also the advance sheets of the Rev of Rev=’s have just...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/37- pages 161-164:6 Tamboer’s Kloof Rd, Tamboer’s Kloof, March 8th 1904, Dear Friend! It has indeed been delightful to see you. I s...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/38- pages 165-66:6 Tamboer’s Kloof Rd, Tamboer’s Kloof, March 11 / 04, Thursday, Dear Friend, Our drive to Camps Bay yesterday was...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/39- pages 167-8:East Bergholt, 6 Tamboer’s Kloof Rd, Tamboer’s Kloof, Friday, Dear Friend, This is just a line to wel-come you ba...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/40- pages 169-170:Dear Friend, not been, to find on, which it, you are going, with tomorrow, If I am, able tomo, & see you, accept, word of...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/41- pages 171-172:Krantz Plaats, P.O Halesowen, Cape Colony, March 3 / 94, Dear Friend, I am not quite sure (I have had so many letters to writ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/42- pages 173-176:Monday, Dear Mr. Stead,, My wife asks me to say she should like to meet you. Her health has been and is so bad (the English c...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/43- pages 177-180:Morley’s Hotel, Sunday, Private, Dear Friend, I have just received your book of Notables of Britain. Yes I have a sugge...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/44- pages 181-2:25 Montague St, W.C., No I am any thing but angry. When I am not at unity with any one I state it directly so that they may k...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/45- pages 183-186 & 241:19, Russell Road,, Kensington. W., Dear Friend, I’m so glad you are going to print Sir George Grey’s photograph. ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/46- pages 187-188:19 Russell Rd, Kensington, Dear Friend, I should be glad to see you on Thursday morning at 11 if you afternoon at 4 if you co...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/47- page 189:Dear Friend, I send you a few cutting from Colonial papers: which look at if you have time., I also send you a photograph of ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/48- pages 190-191:Address Homestead, Kimberley, Dear Friend, Thankyou for your note. If you want to make up your mind with regard to Colonial a...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/49- pages 192-196 & 226:57 Grove Street, Cape Town, My dear Friend, By a mistake instead of my real article about South Africa my rough notes with pa...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/50- pages 196-8:O’Callaghan’s, International Hotel,, The Gardens., Cape Town, My dear Friend, I am am giving myself the great ple...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/51- pages 199-203:Dear Friend, I shall be very glad to see you if you can come here tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. The address is 6 Tamboers Klo...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/52- pages 204-207:Cape Town, Dear Friend, Your powerful letter with regards to the Dilke matter has just reached me. It seems to me very much b...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/53- page 208:Edinburgh House, St Leonards, My dear Mr Stead, I send you a little allegory which will appear in this next months Fortnightl...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/54- pages 209-214:Matjesfontein, Dear Friend, It’s a long while since I last heard from you. I quite wish for some word. I haven’t ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/55- pages 217:page/s missing, P.P.S., I have another request. My eldest sister is here from Africa. She has lately been lecturing in Austra...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/56- pages 221-222:Dear Friend, I have not been able to get your last pamphlet as they are carefuly excluded from the book stall here, can you s...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/57- pages 223-225:Dear Mr Stead, Please thank your German friend. She touches a much deeper & more all all important truth than I do in my ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/58- pages 229-230:page/s missing, I hope you quite understood that I didn’t blame you in the least in the Selous matter. Your statement w...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/59- pages 231-2 & 251-252:Private, My dear Friend, Thanks for the letter you sent me. I have had a great many from all parts of the world about that Ha...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/60- pages 233-4:Book has come. Many thanks for it, think much the most the best book you ever wrote. Am especially delighted with all you say...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/61- pages 235-8:Dear Friend, I write in great haste. Many thanks for your letter. I do hope your time in South Africa has been a good one to ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/62- pages 239-40 & 242:Monday, Dear Friend, It was a bitter disappointment to me that you could not come. I am yet more sorrow-ful to think you are ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/63- pages 243-246:Dear Friend, I am sending you a paper by containing a speech by my husband. It will show you why persons of a liberal or prog...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/64- pages 247-8:Dear Friend, I send you another letter from the same minister (a man whom you would greatly love & trust if you knew him)...
- SCCS Edited Extracts: Four groups of edited extracts from Olive Schreiner's letters can be accessed from here, made by her estranged husband Cronwr... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/1:Pine Grove, Hof Street, Cape Town (no date)., To W. T. Stead., The Roman Catholic is the best and greatest dead form of Chris...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/2:(No date, no place. ?Cape Town.), To W. T. Stead., I shall never forget the stand you made for women eight years ago when my ...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/3:Matjesfontein, 24th Sept., To W. T. Stead., The only thing I didn't like was your putting me on a par with Rhodes. He's much ...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/4:(Undated.), To W. T. Stead., To me you will always be a personality of the most absorbing interest, never to be forgotten, ne...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/5:Middelburg (Cape), Feb., To W. T. Stead., Neither on the subject of Christianity nor of sex have I gone from the standpoint o...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/6:The Homestead, Kimberley, 25th Mar., To W. T. Stead., My married life satisfies even the high ideal of what marriage might be...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/7:Grave Street, Cape Town. (No date. ?1896.), To W T. Stead., Each man's and woman's sex relations seem to me something holy, s...
Mentioned In
- Cory Library, Rhodes University: The Cory Library, Grahamstown, is a rich resource for books and archival papers pertaining in particular to the history of th... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- G.W. Cross MS 14, 462/12:My dear Mr Cross, I return with many thanks Mr Moffats letter though with sorrow that I have to return it. I much wish I coul...
- Greene Family: A sub-set of Schreiner’s letters to Alice Greene is held in the private collection of the Greene family heirs, (while o... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- GFP/OS-AG/6:Dear Friend, I wonder if you are realy better Are you able to go long walks., We had a nice sharp frost here the night before...
- Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin: The HRC, Austin, is one of the world leading locations for archival papers pertaining to literary life and manuscripts across... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- HRC/UNCAT/OS-112:Mentone , Feb 2nd 1889 , Don’t you pitch into me, Henry Havelock. I’m just learning you to do the damn fine horse...
- HRC/CAT/OS/4b-xii:Matjesfontein , May 13 / 90 , I got your journal letter & liked it. Did Symons have to pay on the post card I sent him?, ...
- HRC/UNCAT/OS-138:Matjesfontein , Sep Oct 1st 1890 , My Havelock, it was the most beautiful letter you ever sent me. All the MS. has come but t...
- National Archives Depot, Pretoria: The National Archives Depot is Pretoria is a leading location for archival papers across a wide time-period, organisations an... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Smuts A1/188/62:Hanover, Feb 12 / 04, Dear Isie, I was so glad this morning to get the really beautiful photo of you three. It’s so goo...
- Smuts A1/188/64:Hanover, June 19 / 04, Dear Isie, I hope you will see my husband, he is in Pretoria now I think. It was such a happy happy ti...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/2- pages 42-4 & 218-220:25 Montague St., Russell Sq., Tuesday, Dear Mr Stead, Your letter after wandering all over Europe has just this moment reache...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/3- pages 45-6:Ladies Chambers, Chenies St., Thursday Night., My dear Mr Stead, My article is not coming out in this months Fortnightly, I h...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/4- pages 47-54:missing page/s , I am giving up today & tomorrow in trying to answer., I wrote to you last in June or July not yet quite ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/9- pages 70-1:Cape Town, July 1st 1891, My very dear Friend, The article did not appear in the Fortnightly. Please don’t notice it ti...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/26- pages 123-126:Private, The Homestead, Nov 16 / 96, My dear Friend, Your letter somewhat amused me! My financial affairs are from from my st...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/42- pages 173-176:Monday, Dear Mr. Stead,, My wife asks me to say she should like to meet you. Her health has been and is so bad (the English c...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/53- page 208:Edinburgh House, St Leonards, My dear Mr Stead, I send you a little allegory which will appear in this next months Fortnightl...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/57- pages 223-225:Dear Mr Stead, Please thank your German friend. She touches a much deeper & more all all important truth than I do in my ...
- T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/61- pages 235-8:Dear Friend, I write in great haste. Many thanks for your letter. I do hope your time in South Africa has been a good one to ...
- National English Literary Museum, Grahamstown: The National English Literary Museum is the leading location for collections pertaining to the imaginative and creative writi... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/l:De Aar, April 24th 1912, Dear Edward, I now & then hear a word of you from some one who has seen you & they say all s...
- SCCS Edited Extracts: Four groups of edited extracts from Olive Schreiner's letters can be accessed from here, made by her estranged husband Cronwr... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/1:Pine Grove, Hof Street, Cape Town (no date)., To W. T. Stead., The Roman Catholic is the best and greatest dead form of Chris...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/2:(No date, no place. ?Cape Town.), To W. T. Stead., I shall never forget the stand you made for women eight years ago when my ...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/3:Matjesfontein, 24th Sept., To W. T. Stead., The only thing I didn't like was your putting me on a par with Rhodes. He's much ...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/4:(Undated.), To W. T. Stead., To me you will always be a personality of the most absorbing interest, never to be forgotten, ne...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/5:Middelburg (Cape), Feb., To W. T. Stead., Neither on the subject of Christianity nor of sex have I gone from the standpoint o...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/6:The Homestead, Kimberley, 25th Mar., To W. T. Stead., My married life satisfies even the high ideal of what marriage might be...
- SCCSTheLetters/Stead/7:Grave Street, Cape Town. (No date. ?1896.), To W T. Stead., Each man's and woman's sex relations seem to me something holy, s...
- National Library of South Africa, Cape Town: Special Collections at the NLSA provide one of the leading locations for archival papers across many periods, organisations a... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- James Rose Innes MSC 21/2/1896:55:My dear Friend , What tidings are these that I hear of thee on every hand??? , Since I came out from England primed il with S...
- Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.34:My dear Mary, I sent your dress & boots & packet in the portmanteau this morning. I took it down to the station mysel...
- University of Cape Town, Historical Manuscripts: Manuscripts & Archives at the University of Cape Town is a leading location for accessing archival papers across many per... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/9:My dear old Ettie, I leave £1. 11/6 is for the rest of the rent & t there is the 5/- I got from you the other day I ...
- Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/10:My darling old Sister, I had a letter from Stead this morning saying he would certainly come & see you this morning if at...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/28:Karree Kloof, Kran Kuil, Sep 14 / 99, Dear Laddie, I enclose a letter I have just got from Hobson the Manchester Guardian Rep...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/35:Karree Kloof, October 3rd , Dear Fan, Thank you for your so soon sending the paper which I got by this post., I’m so so...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/40:Nov 4 / 99, Dear Friend, I cannot help feeling sure that the independence of the Transvaal will yet be preserved. , I have so...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold3/1900/24:Dear Fan, Please send the enclosed letter of Cron’s on to his mother (when you & Will have read it if you care to) ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold3/1900/64:My dear Friend, I expect you & Miss Greene will be wanting to attend the woman’s congress at the Paarl on the 10th....
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold1/1912/14:Sunday morning , Dear old Man, Have you seen Het since I left? What does Theo think of her condition?, I enclose a cutting fr...