TURNBULL LIBRARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 104, 29 October 1940, Page 13

TURNBULL LIBRARY

INTERESTING ADDRESS

The annual meeting of the Friends of the Turnbull Library was the occasion of a provoking discussion by Professor Gordon on "The Elizabethan Drama in the Printing House." In the course of a graphic account of the stage and play production in the seventeenth century, Professor Gordon examined the style of handwriting common at that time, and the relations between printer and author in the process of publication.

The subject, which at first thought appeared rather academic, became one of direct and clear appeal to any reader of Shakespeai'e and early drama. The transmission of texts has long been, and, indeed, still is, a vexed question, and when one examines the various readings in early editions, particularly of Shakespeare's plays, the reason becomes clear. The lecturer pointed out that it was not often a dramatic company concerned itself to have its play published, unless a play was first pirated, as generally happened. The practice of bribing an actor or a member of the audience to record the play always resulted in many fantastic errors and strange readings. The player was generally conversant with his own and associated parts of the text, but other dialogue was indifferently remembered. An observer in front of the stage obviously could not be properly acquainted with stage directions on the less important speeches.

Professor Gordon illustrated his lecture from early books in the library, stressing with satisfaction that in few cities, even in Great Britain, would it be possible to assemble such a wealth of literary treasures, quartos, and folios of the period under examination.

A, brisk discussion followed the lecture. The librarian, Mr. C. R. H. Taylor, gave a short commentary on books and manuscripts recently acquired by the library.

Mr. J. M. A. Ilott, president of the Friends of the Turnbull Library, was in the chair, and expressed gratification at the growth and good work of the organisation, which, he said, was the first of its kind in New Zealand. Officers were elected as follows:—President, Mr. J. M. A. Ilott; secretary, Mr. P. Lawlor; assistant secretary, Mr. A. G. Bagnall; committee, Professor I. A. Gordon, Messrs. A. Mulgan, Johannes C. Andersen, A. E. Currie, and C. Quentin Pope.