SCOTTISH CHILDHOOD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 17

SCOTTISH CHILDHOOD

Autobiography Told in the Third Person

“Perilous Privilege,” by “Janet Fergus" (London: Peter Davies).

“Perilous Privilege” is described as an autobiography, yet it is told in the third person, and the early hie of tne child “Janet Fergus” is projected as upon a screen by the artist Janet I'ergus, so that all may see and some few understand. . . It is a good autobiography, yet in all sincerity the writer draws her childhood as it appears in retrospect, although she is obviously striving to set it down as the child lived it. “Janet Fergus” lived in a Lowianci Scots village. Her small horizon was completely dominated by her fear: ot her mother, and her fear of God. The picture of the mother is particularly that of an adult looking back. me conscious thoughts of the small Janet arc too definitely formed to have belonged entirely to childhood, but much more probably obtained their clarity in reconstruction by the mature Janet. Mrs. Fergus is too hard and cold to be quite convincing. In the whole book she and Janet do not once approach each other—no single kindness in thought or action is credited to her by the memory of her daughter. The child’s idea of God rings more truly She read her Bible and went to kirk on the Sabbath to imbibe doctrines' of hell-fire and eternal punishment She looked about her intelligently and saw sin, misery and ugliness —things which God could have prevented. To her mind God was an awesome being who made stupid mistakes and then wreaked fiery vengeance upon trembling mankind. In this tumult of the fear of God and the burning dislike for her mother, Janet cherished her unsatisfied craving for beauty. Finally she found expression in drawing, and this solaced her in many trials of the spirit and finally brought her freedom. There is a maturity about “Perilous Privilege” which makes it an objective rather than a subjective study of youth, but it has a vivid quality which carries the reader over any minor obstacles to credulity of the character studies. The author has a distinctive styles not entirely free from mannerisms which intrigue or irritate accordin"- to the mood, yet there are few who will not‘finish “Perilous Privilege” with the zest with which it is begun.