THE BRONTES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22201, 18 September 1937, Page 2

THE BRONTES

ADDRESS BY MISS WESTALL MEETING OF PARENTS' UNION An unpleasant husband, one who cut to pieces his wife’s dresses that he did not like, who, in a temper, cut off the backs of the chairs and burnt his children’s coloured shoes because he thought them frivolous —such was the description of the Rev. Patrick Bronte, father of the three distinguished sisters, given by Miss Westall last night in an entertaining ahd informative address on the Bronte family given to members of the Parents National Educational Union. Mr Bronte’s right name. Miss Westall explained, was O’Brunty, and he was the son of a labourer in County Down, Ireland. He first became a weaver, then a teacher; next be attended St. John’s College, Cambridge, changed his name to Bronte, became a clergyman, good-looking and attractive, and soon married Maria Branwell, a member of a Cornish family. She died eight years later and left a family of five girls and one boy. On poor little Maria, the eldest girl, fell the task of looking alter the family. They, deprived of companions of their own age, and with little outlet for their energies, lived in an imaginary world of their own creation, Charlotte and her brother calling the land of their dreams Angrialand, and the two younger sisters living "in an imaginary country which they called Gondaland. Later, the older girls were sent to a school for clergymen’s daughters. established at Cowan’s Bridge. Maria, serious, thirsting for knowledge, but hopelessly slovenly and untidy, was constantly in trouble and was frequently beaten with a birch rod. She contracted a cold, was taken home, and died two days later. Elizabeth, the second daughter, died shortly a iter wards. Miss Westall told of Charlotte’s great friendship with two girls, one of whom. Mary Taylor, afterwards lived in Wellington. She kept up a correspondence with Charlotte, but while Charlotte kept Mary’s letters, describing Wellington as it was in 1849 and 1850, Mary burnt Charlotte’s. Miss Westall described Charlotte’s life in Brussels, the three sisters’ first literary venture, the publication of a book of poems, which cost them £SO and of which only a few copies were sold. Then came Charlotte’s success with “Jane Eyre,” published with the author’s name given as Currer Bell. Emily, with her wild, lawless nature and passionate love of animals, was never understood by Charlotte, and her book, “Withering Heights,” is a literary curiosity. Both she and Anne, whose gentle, gracefully written tale, “Agnes Gray,” had some success, died early, as also did their only brother. Branwell. Charlotte. Miss Westall thought, was really slightly ashamed of being an authoress, and during her very short married life, in which she had almost her first taste of happiness, she did not write at all. Dr. L. A. , Bennett thanked Miss Westall for her address. The meeting, over which the president, Mrs Norton Francis, presided, was held at Dr. and Mrs Bennett’s home in Papanui road, and Mrs Bennett and Mrs P. F. Mann were the hostesses. SCHOOL FRIENDS MEET IMPROMPTU PARTY A pleasant impromptu morning tea party was held at the home of Mrs A. H. Muir (Winchester street), president of the Christchurch branch of SI. Hilda’s Old Girls’ Association, to meet Mrs R. R. Smith, from the West Coast, an old girl of the school. Amongst those present were Mesdames A. H. Muir, J. Ferrier, M. Dearsley, R. R. Smith. M. B. Warren. D. V. Donaldson. D. Macbean Stewart. A. K. Larcomb, Pinfold, A. Elley. V. Fisher, G. R. Park, Muschamp, Misses D. Ronaldson, R. Willis, and Braithwaite. PAN-PACIFIC WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION NEXT CONFERENCE IN NEW ZEALAND Ail members of the New Zealand delegation have returned from the triennial conference held In Vancouver in July. The new international officers of the association are as follows; President. Miss' Mary Bollert (British Columbia): vice-presidents, Mrs Gauntlett (Japan), Mrs Beveridge (Australia). Mrs Lo (China), and Mrs Lawson (United States); secretary, Miss Brown (Hawaii); programme chairwoman. Miss Andrews (New Zealand). The New Zealand invitation for the 1940 conference to be held in New Zealand was accepted, the actual location to be decided at the next meeting of the New Zealand Pan-Pacific Committee. The conference will coincide with the centenary celebrations.