AMY BOCK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12766, 11 May 1909, Page 2

AMY BOCK.

Amy Bock's Childhood.

The scene of the genesis of the career of Amy Bock was in, the township of Sale, Gippsland, Victoria, where fche first saw the light of day 49 years ago. Accordirg to Mr J. C. Bryant, who was a. schoolmate of Amy's in that townßhip (Mr Bryant's father wae master of the State school at that time), the girl at school was clever and popular, her pomewhat reserved manner with her girl friends be ing counterbalanced by her fonaness tor boy companions. She wae not bold or boisterous in any sense, it was just a question of temperament. As she gr&w older she became an accomplished pianwt, and began teaching music when still a girl. She excelled as a horsewoman whan in her early teens, and with her brother rode to the hounds. A number of riding prizes were- also secured by her at . agricultural shows. Her father, with her assistance, organised many entertainments for charity, and at them Amy made herself famous by the clever manner in which she took boy parts in character plays. Her mother was of weak intellect, and suffered from the delusion that she was "Lady Macbeth," aid would stand at the gate leading to their home with a carving knife in her hand making all sorts of strange assertions as to her "'high position." Amy would always hurry her mother indoors, and appeared to have great power over her. Mr Bryant says he believes Mrs Bock was afterwards committed to a mental hospital.