Esigodini 3rd June 1938 Dear Gelana, Thank you for your letter sta ting in brief your compliance with my questionnaire. Although your letters are both full of apologies and denote a change of tone from your previous ar gumentative ones, I was pleased at least, that there was some argument and disagreement, for it is good for both of us that we should know where we disagree and where we agree. If you yielded to all I said I would have been disappointed, but because you stood your ground, whether right or wrong according to my way of thinking at I appreciated your effort very much. Please whenever you get your changes and you feel like saying any venomous words to me do not refrain under the pretence of being polite, but true meaning of their contents. rather under the strain of weighing your words and giving them the You have already proved to me that you are very cheeky, stubborn woman, and if you are determined on your point you will have your way. That is why I want to convince you on your Points and allow as much opposition as is possible, in order to get your best and then expect a very clear and friendly understanding between us. Please never hide from me anything that gives you fear or sorrow and despair. Maintain your individuality and refuse to be controlled by men, just because of his sex. But of course, respond to reason and once convinced, stay convinced and try to work harmony. Yes, I like you to be here with me now. I miss your presence and your influence. Your soul and mine are so knit together that I feel a big gulf between me and you when you are So long away from me. But believe me, I would be the last man to allow you to go and stay at the Ngcobo's when you are in Joh, burg. I feel when you do come back you must enter your own private domain, where you can have the freedom of admitting me in and also sending me out. I cannot help seeing you and spending all my time with you when you are back, and this will only aggravate things and give scandal a long rope as long as you fighting your case. Yes, it is important that we should share our sorrows and tribulations together and if there is any man anxious to see free from this bondage is me, but I would not like you to take a very crookish way of meeting your end. It must beall noble and straight forward. No crookish or hideous methods to be employed. Radebe tells me to-day that there is a summons coming to you from Percy and that it will be necessary for you to come and defend it if you do not authorise them to receive the summons on your behalf and then stay home there to allow your husband a free divorce without opposition. He has promised to write you soon and explain the whole position. ( Frankly speaking, I begin to distrust Samuel and cannot believe a thing he tells me, but as you have already dealt with them, I have no alternative.). If you can really find something to do and then get the time to continue with your book and other research work, I would be only too pleased to give you time up to December. The job I have for you, I can work up now and by the time you come, I shall have developed it to something of a paying concern. - something worthwhile. At present I will not lose my sleep over it but will try and explore avenues by which I can see my enterprise gaining success. I am out to do real social work and in the "Bantu Adviser & Benevolent Society, I see an opportunity of helping the poor, the legally undefended, the sick, the afflicted, and the ignorant in getting defence for them according to their wants and demands. But before I can call you to this job, I myself must be sure of the lines of practical achivements it wilí take. I am starting already in a small scale, but because of this wretched work of mine here in the Club, I cannot be too fast with my practical schemes. That is why I say, if you can get some thing to do till Decemberand also take your trip for research work in July as proposed, and do as much missionary work and informative discovery as possible within this period, I would not grudge you this privilege. early what you are planning to do for the time-being. Let me know If you need some cash, please say how much and do not be shy to for my aid in any respect. As long as you are usir ask amount for the furtherance of your our book and your research work. speaking to writinu a fres I am out to do fuit, I see an opporthe afflicted, ands and demands ing to achis privile as possible

I think you know he by non, 1oney isnoobing to me but an instrument ser help us acquire that which 3111 ennoble our ideas and viden our intelligence for the benefit of the social and humane aims we have in common. So as long as your conscience gives you a clear purpose of action and you need only money to D put that action to practicability, do not refrain from calling for my assistance, I am sorry and I apologise for not having found time to give you information on the Hines, I have been a bad boy, but believe me I am frightfully busy and have to stay late at oient sometimes to do some of my Club Tork. HOT I valued your assistance during these long nights, you cannot imagine. I till try to send you some information at least before the end of this month. Your writings and matter construction is developing fine, and I just wonder why did you want to kill this talent of uri ting in you, for it is entirely your own gift by God. I have been reading Joseph Hoekingis E l een are liars. You should read that book for it contains a case of a man who construed all sorts of funny tales and bribed some people to produce evidence against the man she desired to my divorce for another man, who was richer than her husband. You have to read the book in order to realise its cynicism about monen and the world of men. Yes, Regina, ve have to thank God that e still have our optimis about life and about the human race, for there are times in this gord hen you feel that Men have given themselves up to Hamon and wil do anything and everything for the sake of Financial and Torld_y Glory. we see a lot of this burbus and chicanery in the Rand from the nome, the children, the parents, the unitebusinesscircles and the Church. Is it any wonder that other people despair of Dupe and give themse.ves aliay to the worst that this earth can give ? Really let us sing praises and rejoice that we have still that radiant smile and respect for the flesh that we are and the service ve can render for our brethren, That a relief, oh yes what a privilege! Do you really feel fit and ready to help in this great upward struggle ? You complained in n letter of my distrust of you, and e see a lot aren, the partnat other per eu ara strujou res our ore D D D ) D 0 02 even asked me to direct you just as I like. Yes, Gelana, sometimes I really feel suspicious of you, and just wonder whether I am betraying myself to you. That right have I to think that I, of all your former connections, am the chosen Son of Isreal ? That 2 are the grounds of my trust and confidence in you ? As a boy and nou as a man, I have had oecasion to take tomen seriously. and almost committed myself to some real action of confidence, only to find that I have betrayed myself and made myself a laughing stock. I have a weakness of being so easily touched and attuned to love that I do not hesitate to give all-in attachment to the one I adore, only to find that she was not serious, or she hardly meant it. You have, however, non ne completely to senseless devotion that I still maintain ny optimism, inspite of certain, conscientious warnings of former experiences. So whenever I get a letter of confirmation of your Love, your purpose, Your pledges to ine. I get the fortitude that strengthens my convictions. I need your continual attention and fervent communications to keep me a live to ideal and make me more trustful of you. Do not Dlame ile and class ne as "too suspicious for mords" it is this mortal weakness that makes me so fearful and cowardly. Turomise to overcome it at last. 17111 you assist me ? Non, Regina, do not answer me like a pupil sitting for an examination, who has to make his answers concise and brier. You have touched on all my questions, but avoided them all. (a) You say you can only wait till 30th June and pursue your own way for Divorce is nothing happens, You do not state, whether in Natal or Jon, burgand under what conditions ? (D) You quote something about Abou Ben Adhem, when I ask your interest in Social work as a career. This quotation means nothing to me. I want to know whether you would rather be a Social Worker like Ars Bridgman, Miss Maud of Eku tuleni, or liss Brida Hartley, than be a School Mistress, a Mother, or an Author ? (c) You say you are prepared on condition you get a job to come back and stay here, divorced or undivorced, but you do not state plainly what type of decent job you mean, and whether you would have then finished all your literary work you have in band.

Let me drive away a certain mist about me in your mind. I never wanted to convey to you that I cannot take you nor give you a home because of my present help to a Mother and her Daughter. What I am doing for these two souls is my voluntary wish and action. It is not bound by any duration nor conditions of service. It can be terminated at any time and if I still wish to continue it without hur ting your feelings I could still render my help after we are safely anchored on our future. So do not misunderstand me. As soon as you are ready and your plans are decided, give me good notice and I will surely settle down to some thing for ourselves without making you second-fiddle to anybody, nor will our companionship be tainted with any 111-forebodings. It is not a question of me doubting and making a comparison. Believe me ,or please believe me when I say " The die is cast and on you and you alone rests the burden of proving my VOWS true and real, Are you sure of me now ? I am from a debate at the Social Centre this evening. We were discussing whether Military-Training was not the best woman at all. for the Bantu Youth. Again in that Debate there was no African I am sending you MUmteteli" where it is mentioned I am taking part in "Porgylt in July. Do not believe it, Dear. I am doing nothing of the sort until you know Dhlomo has asked me to help him producell Dingane" - a short One-Act play which he wrote and typed in my office. We are having our first rehearsal at the Social Centre on Sunday,5th Whether it will be a success depends on him, So far I am keen to do some thing and I want to give him a Chance. May I act in this Play ? on Sunday Night I am invited to attend a meeting where the question of sending a delegate to America will be discussed. "Read this letter I am attending this meeting and I hear there is a strong feeling to send me as a delegate. Will you allow me to take this honour ? I can tell you frank I am doing nothing of the kind even if they move heaven and earth to persuade me. My real purpose is to fix up things for my future and then take my own money to go for some real purpose Overseas. Allcock has been to Natal and back. I sent him with the Mseleku Singers to Amanzimtoti. He could not come round your way for fear of being delayed. Mseleku is still appealing for funds to go overseas and he wishes to come up to Joh, burg soon. I have advised him not to come at present as people are still tired of Tourists, especially from Natal, I have sold my Sophiatown Property for a huge bar gain and am investing that money for future developments. At present I have engaged a lawyer to settle our share of my Grand father is Estate and I assure you it is proving not an easy task to get these legal quibbles defined and explained. My brother was here with me to-day he says the kids at Heidelberg ar e well and Miriam has not given birth yet. He has not found a job for you yet. Tell Gelana, that unless she learns to ask politely and respectfully for á Tennis Racquet, instead of casting sarcastic remarks she may get it, after a 11fe time. My family of boys have taxed me well this winter. I have had to buy Mad oda, Nyoni-nyon, Whisky, and D1 liza - all four lumber jackets for the winter and give them a Blanket for the chilly nights. I do not know what will happen to these kids when I am no more with them. They are so fond of me and cannot think of any future di sappointment. How can I take Fannin again and add more confusion to chaos. Inyaniso angazi ke, Gelana, nanko ke umtwalo wako wonke loyo. Let me know your final decision re JULY or DECEMBER. So far as I am concerned take that Job there and watch developments. I am sending you "Umteteli" and also Mseleku's Appeal, and also the Peace Council Letter. Do you need some paper ? or Envelopes or Cash ? Why don't you say so, you silly shy-one ? Expect something next year J. Try and take a course in Short-hand whilst you are down there. It will be useful for you and me. Develop your speed in typing, by trying to time yourself when you write your scripts. My thoughts are entirely out with you every night and day. Everything I see, I see you in it. face