LYCEUM PENWOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 130, 29 November 1939, Page 14

LYCEUM PENWOMEN

ADDRESS BY MISS SCANLAN

-UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY"

Never has there been a greater demand for books and magazines than during this winter in London, and other cities that are blacked-out, said Miss Nelle Scanlan, when speaking to members of the Penwomen's Circle of the Lyceum Club at their final meeting for the year. The meeting, which took the form of an open afternoon* was held at the clubroom yesterday. Miss Scanlan was the guest of honour. Owing to the danger of being out at night in blacked-out London, continued the speaker, many people remained at home, so that libraries had had an unprecedented demand for reading matter. For this reason she encouraged writers to make the most of this unusual opportunity. Miss Scanlan mentioned that her first association with a writer's club was in Washington many years ago, when she resided at the Clubhouse of j Penwomen, and where, in the basement, they had a cafe styled "The Hoot of the Owl." There she met many , journalists, authors, women leaders j of women's organisations, and people of many nationalities; among them Mary Roberts Rinehart, the wellknown American novelist, whose beautiful home in a large block of flats contained a private and secluded room 1 where the authoress would retire for j complete isolation from world affairs in order to work undisturbed. "A GOOD FIELD." | Many interesting experiences arid anecdotes were told, and much heipful advice was given on books and publishing by the speaker, who mentioned the journalist's difficulty of obtaining an opening in England if unknown. She considered Australia and New Zealand a good field for short stories and articles. She mentioned that owing to the war several English newspapers had amalgamated and many magazines had ceased publication. , * Miss Scanlan considered that journalism must be learnt in a newspaper [ office, for " practical experience was more valuable than degrees in journalism, and, said she, "when writing make it vivid, not wuzzy with words." j When speaking of the names of fictitious, characters in books which somelimes involved innocent authors in libel suits, she .described some amusing cases, and in conclusion remarked that when an author was asked how he j named his characters the answer was "From the.obituary notices in the Lon- ] don 'Times'." j

Miss Scanlan, who had been welcomed by Mrs. W. Bailey, leader of the Penwomen, and presented with roses, was thanked for her interesting address by Mrs. J. C. Andersen, president' of the Lyceum Club. Duets were sung by Mrs. J. F.'Ewan and Mrs. J. M. Duncan, the accompanist being Mrs. Howard Cook, and pianoforte solos jwere played by Miss Dorothy Downing.' During afternoon tea members enjoyed an opportunity of meeting the guest of honour.

Among others present were Mrs. S. Masters (organising secretary), Mesd.amfes Yon Haast, Hegjiry, y. Masters, Grawforcl, C. Barrel, W. Gray, V. Drew (Auckland), Thompson, Lyon, Langwin, Newlyn, K. Upchurch, M. Hoskings, Huntingdon, D. Herbert, J. Hardie, Connor, J. Archibald, Chap-man-Taylor, Young (New York), and Misses F. Richardson, Inder, and George.

S. P. Andrew and Sons Photo.

residents of Petone,