Rather Overshadowed Mrs. G. B. Shaw's Literary Work

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 19

Rather Overshadowed Mrs. G. B. Shaw's Literary Work

lif Ifl HY is Bernard Shaw so inconsistent? Why, with IBfWrjr] his views on the inrMVJf WfA equality of sexes and \4Jl£q[ the relative superiority MCmtjDlw of woman, does he ™rnit of such a flagrant injustice? r fl who looks up G.B.S. in “Who’s •h ” finds there many words about • but of Mrs. G.B.S. there is not » ?'o retort with humility: is well kuowu does not nepd .he advertised." But he would even ™nre probably reply somewhat as ° . “Human nature is inquisitive a impressionable. I insisted on •kins myself heard so much that !£!Tthought I must be important. «• wife, who really is an important "T on has qualities that I lack; she and modest. I like to get s elf talked about, but she recoils flm the public tongue and eye.” before her marriage Mrs. Bernard chaw - was Charlotte Frances PayneTntnshend. Ail energetic worker, he threw herself whole-heartedly ■io various movements for sociaj ® (o rm and revealed great organising and administrative ability When She met Bernard Shaw he aa a struggling journalist whom a Ldous accident had reduced almost -physical wreck. Miss PayneTownshend nursed him back to Health on his recovery and after iheir marriage, in IS9B, when Shaw 42 he gave up journalism and was able to devote himself to his urefaces and plays. v gnaw tells an amusing story of his wedding. The marriage ceremony ■was to take P lace at a registry of„e and two of his friends, one of ihem Graham Wallas, the distinguished writer on social philosophy, were present a 3 witnesses. The -iends had put on their best clothes tor the occasion, very greatly outlining the bridegroom, who apparently possessed no clothes that could he called “best.” The registrar, overlooking Mr. Shaw, began marrying Miss Townshend to the presentable professor. Needless to say, the error was quickly rectified. Mrs. Shaw is a woman of great charm. Her graciousness and gentleness impress all who meet her. With a quiet, kindly and straightforward manner she has the gift < being able to put everybody at ease. Whether in their house in London—previously In the Adelphi, now in Whitehall—or in their home at Ayot St Lawrence, the influence of Mrs. Shaw is immediately felt in the very atmosphere of the place. The quiet settings, artistic ami restrained, show everywhere the touch of her band- „ _ , To a person of Bernard Shaw s temperament —though he might refuse to admit that he possesses a

temperament—the harmonious surroundings must act as a soothing influence when his blood, or his mind, becomes i.oo choleric. The one flamboyant work of art in the house is the portrait of Shaw by Augustus John, a riot of blues, reds and yellows. For the rest the walls are hung with works of Rodin, Sargent and Duer; portraits of Nietsehe, Strindberg and Descartes; and with numbers of Shavian cartoons, for Mrs. Shaw has as full a sense of humour as her husband. The bust of Shaw in bronze which Mrs. Shaw commissioned Rodin to execute is generally oh her writing desk. As is often the case with women who have geniuses for husbands, their own ability in literary or artistic directions are completely overshadowed. Mrs. Shaw has made an important contribution to the literature of the stage by virtually introducing the works of Brieux to England. The plays of Brieux Mrs. Shaw regarded very much as the plays of Ibsen had once been regarded by her husband. Brieux was a social reformer, a man who dared to throw the searchlight on glaring defects in modern civilisation and on subjects that had been considered taboo for generations. A reformer and an idealist herself, Mrs. Shaw set to work to translate Brieux’s plays into English. “Maternity," “Damaged Goods,” “The Three Daughters of Monsieur Dupont.” were followed by translations of “Woman on Her Own.” “False Gods,” and “The Red Rose,” all done in fluent and easy style. As a member of the executive committee of the Stage Society she used every effort to induce the censor to permit the production of Brieux on the English stage, and finally, after a great deal of opposition, she was successful.

There is another work for which posterity may also be grateful to her and that is the collection of extracts from her husband’s works, “Selected Passages From the Works of Bernard Shaw.” There, among the many amusing and interesting quotations, is the following on marriage, from “Man and Superman”: “Send me to the galleys and drain me to the felon whose number happens to be next to mine, and 1 must accept the inevitable and make the most of the companionship. Many such companionships, they tell me, are touchingly affectionate, and most are at least tolerably friendly.” The marriage of Mrs. Shaw and her husband was based on a profound sense of comradeship and has unquestionably helped in the unfolding of one of the remarkable individual talents of modern times. I-low far it has helped only G.B.S. himself really knows.