BULLETIN" DAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 19

BULLETIN" DAYS

To David Christie Murray, the English novelist, is attributed the description of "The Bulletin," Sydney, as "that pestiferous literary dustbin.1' Certainly it is a unique journal and definitely Australian, and to its success and preservation of its distinctive character it has no peer in Great, or Greater Britain. No doubt, 'like "Punch," in the estimation of some middle-aged readers, "The Bulletin" to-day is "not what it -was" —no popular.journal over is. To the making of ""The Bulletin" the paper it is the late William Mac.leod contributed his full, share. It was launched in .1880, and Maeleod had a, hand in it, but he was engaged at that timo ou that monumental work, the "Picturesque Atlas of Australia." However, at the urgent request of J. F. Archibald, joint founder with John Haynes of "The Bulletin," he joined the paper as manager. Being that rare combination of artist and man of business, William Macl.eod very soon made his iniiuenco felt on the journal. He designed for its distinctive, heading, and worked on both sides of the paper; he saw it grow to be a power not only in Australia b.ut quoted all over the world as expressive of Australia. There was a time early in. the history of the paper and when Macleod and Archibald were tho joint proprietors, that, offers were made to buy "The: Bulletin." Archibald for his part was disposed to sell, but his partner would have none of it, /atidj as it proved, this was just as wol'l in the best interests of both of them, for -their own personalities and those of .the gifted staffs they gathered round them were deeply impressed on "Tho- Bulletin's"- graphic and literary characteristics. ■

Mrs. Macleod,has written about her husband in a monograph that is notable for its high literary character and the restraint of the writer. She gives her book the appropriate title, "Macleod,. of 'The' Bulletin,'" and no- doubt that was in accord with the wishes of her husband, who intended that if anything was to be Written about hiih when his work was over for gooa it should be written by his wife.. Mrs. Macleod. gives enough of: the early life of her husband to show how brave he was in the face of adverse circumstances. Ho was born in London, but went out to Australia with his parents as a boy of five, so that he was -Australian in all but birth. ■ His life as- a boy and a young nian- was extremely hard, but he was determined to be an artist, and he never swerved- from his purpose. Eventually -ho exhibited .at Australian art exhibitions and was successful in painting portraits. He did considerable work, too, for illustrated papers before he was engaged on the "Picturesque 'Atlas/ *" I'rfclu'ued -in." Mrs." Maeleod's book are coloured reproductions of hor husband's work, which speak for themselves.- .They "show that Macleod was not only a sound -.judge of good work, but waa himself a fine craftsman. Ho' gave to-Australia a gallery of portraits of tho men who made Australia' from the beginning to our own times. Many personages figure in Ike pages of Mrs. Maulopd's book through llieir- associa-tion-with "The Bulletin," and among them l;Hop" (or- James Livingstoii Hopkins), Honry Lavvson, Victor Daley, Phil May, David Low> Arthur Adams, WillDyson, A. G. Stephens, Norman Lindsay, Julian Ashlou, M. -Forrest, George Lambert, and Sir John Longstaffc, only to mention a few artistic and literary names. Mrs. Macleod describes her husband as a simple, homoloving man, and beloved in his own circle, and having a positive genius for friendship. "Macleod of 'The Bulletin' " is not only the well-told-life story of an Australian artist, but is in itself a valuable contribution, to ■ Australian literature. It-is published by. The Snelling Press, Bay street, Sydney. • ;