SERVICES TO LITERATURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

SERVICES TO LITERATURE.

PENSIONS AS RECOGNITION.

Tho list of Civil pensions granted in Britain during tho year ended March 31 last, includes the following:—

Mr. Alan Orr Anderson, in recognition of his services to Scottish history .. 80 Mrs. Fanny Sabiua Beclto, in recognition of tlio services rendered- to literature by Tier husband, tho late Mr. Louis Becko 10 Mrs. Georgina Maria Becker, in consideration of tho services rendered lo art by her husband, the lato Mr. 'Harry Becker 70 Professor Francesco Berger, in recognition of liio services to music . . 100 Mrs. Mary Burnet, in recognition of tho services rendered by her husband, tho late Professor John Burnet, M.A., LL.D., in tho spheres of classics and philosophy .. .. 80 Mrs. Jauet Elizabeth Courtney, 0.8. E., J.P., in recognition of tho services rendered to literature by her husband, tho lato Mr. William Leonard Courtney, M.A., LL.D. . . . . 80 Mr. Stewart March Ellis in recognition of his literary work 60 Miss Sophia Gertrude Ford, in recognition of her literary work . . .. 50 Miss BeatrLco Harraden, 8.A., in recognition of her literary work . . 100 Mrs. Mary St, Lcgor Harrison (Lucas Malet), in recognition of her literary work . .. 100 Mr. Ernest Percival Rhys, in recognition of his services to literuture . . 100 Mrs. Martha Sutherland Sliankland, in \ recognition of tho services rendered by > her husband, tho late llev. Thomas Sliankland, to Welsh history and literature 50 Mr. Alfred Owen Williams, in recognition of hi 3 literary work .. . . 50 Mr. Alfred Owen Williams, who was known as tho hammerman poet, died suddenly at tho ago of 45 on April 10, about three weeks after the pension was granted. His poetic gift was developed in a stato of poverty and in tho midst of hard work. As a boy ho was a farm worker, and later ho became a hammerman in the railway works at Swindon. Ho was a born artist in poetry and in prose. His wife died six weeks after him in the little cottage near Swindon which she and her husband built with their own unaided hands.

Professor Francesco Berger celebrated his 96th birthday in July, and only a year ago retired from the position of senior Pianoforte Professor at the Royal Academy of Music. He was a personal friend of Charles Dickens, first played in public at the ago of eight, and has written several volumes on music, dedicated his " Reminiscences " by special permission to Queen Alexander. ■ Mrs. Mary Harrison (Lucas Malet) is tho youngest daughter of Charles Kingsley; among her principal novels are Tho Wages of Sin," " History of Sir Richard Calmady," and " Adrian Savage." Miss Beatrice Harraden has published a large number of works; among her novels are " Ships that Pass in tho Night," " The Fowler," -" Out of tho Wreck I Rise," and " Search Will Find it Out." She takes an active interest in the women's movement.

Mrs. Courtney married Mr. W. L. Courtney in 1911 as his second wife, and recently wrote a memoir of him entitled, " The Making of an Editor." She has served on Royal Commissions, has occupied editorial positions, and is an expert in librarianship.