SPILT INK CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 233, 3 October 1933, Page 12

SPILT INK CLUB.

A meeting of the Spilt Ink Club, Auckand branch, was held at the residence of Vlrs. Ujia Craig", Kpsom, on Saturday ifternoon. Mrs. Jean Bos well gave an n teres ting talk on Ethel Mannin and ier amazing career. She was born in 900 with an Irish Cockney for a father ind a practical English farm woman for i mother. At the ago of 10 she got a josition in the office of Higham, on an idvertising magazine. At 17 she became issistant editor on the "Pelican" and inallv became the whole of the "Pelican." 'he married at the age of 19, and live .'cars of domesticity were among the jusiest of her life. While doing housevork she wrote for the provincial press ind published four novels, "Martha," 'Hunger of the Sea," "Sounding Brass" ind "Pilgrims." Ethel Mannin had the jroadest ideas upon the upbringing and iducation of children and detested the )resent educational system. Her own :hild, a daughter, was allowed to run vild and practically lived in the garden, iven sleeping out in the winter nights. Jthel Mannin knocked the head off every invention. Mrs. Boswell then read some extracts from her book, "Confessions and ixpressions," among which were porr&ite of literary lions in disguise. In he absence of Miss Eileen Johnstone her >aper, "The Years Between," was read )y Mrs. Court. A University course in English, as defined by the calendar,- led nany students to the conclusion that English literature, having reached its :enith in the age of Shakespeare, passed it the death of Tennyson. Of the years >etween, we hear nothing, as if genius lad slept. Miss Johnstone stated. It was or the Georgian poets, among whom vere Rupert Brooke, Bunyon. Grenfell, ;he boy George Sorley, the late poet aureate, Yeats, and many others that ;he writer put up a vivid plea and appreciation. Mrs. Fisher, who occupied the chair, heartily thanked the hostess and speakers.