the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Charles and Pattie Stansfield : 'The Magic Formula'

'The subject of the evening was L.P. Jacks. A few moments sufficed to pool our information as to the man. Too late the Secretary remembered that that indefatigable polisher of mirrors & duster of painted windows - Mr Harold Begbie - had included Jacks in his latest volume of backstairs biographies: perhaps it was just as well for it concentrated attention on the writings & these gave us amusement, interest & profit. Mr Evans out of "From the Human End" read about the change from individual to cooperative gardening with an amusing but very neat indication of the gains & losses of such social changes. Mr & Mrs Stansfield selected readings from "Among the Idol makers". the Magic Formula - "Please will you tell me the time" is a delightful story of the young for the old. "Made out of Nothing" takes us behind the scenes in the antique furniture manufactory and missionary enterprise is seen from a new angle. H.R. Smith read an account of an old farmer "Farmer Jeremy & his Ways" & told of farmers he knew of whom this account was aa true picture. E.E. Unwin read a story about two tramps sheltering from rain with the author in a shepherd's box. "Macbeth & Bangus upon the blasted heath", a story in which humour & pathos went hand in hand. He also spoke about the "Snarley Bob" series in which a famous shepherd with curious psychic powers is the hero of the stories. Through most of the stories & essays runs irony & every one of his writings gives us furiously to think - for Jacks strips the rags & coverings from off our conventions & our conventional thought, & with remorseless logic leads us face to face with our inconsistencies & prejudices.'

Century:      Reader/Listener/Group: Charles and Pattie Stansfield     Print: Book

Charles and Pattie Stansfield : 'Made out of Nothing'

'The subject of the evening was L.P. Jacks. A few moments sufficed to pool our information as to the man. Too late the Secretary remembered that that indefatigable polisher of mirrors & duster of painted windows - Mr Harold Begbie - had included Jacks in his latest volume of backstairs biographies: perhaps it was just as well for it concentrated attention on the writings & these gave us amusement, interest & profit. Mr Evans out of "From the Human End" read about the change from individual to cooperative gardening with an amusing but very neat indication of the gains & losses of such social changes. Mr & Mrs Stansfield selected readings from "Among the Idol makers". the Magic Formula - "Please will you tell me the time" is a delightful story of the young for the old. "Made out of Nothing" takes us behind the scenes in the antique furniture manufactory and missionary enterprise is seen from a new angle. H.R. Smith read an account of an old farmer "Farmer Jeremy & his Ways" & told of farmers he knew of whom this account was aa true picture. E.E. Unwin read a story about two tramps sheltering from rain with the author in a shepherd's box. "Macbeth & Bangus upon the blasted heath", a story in which humour & pathos went hand in hand. He also spoke about the "Snarley Bob" series in which a famous shepherd with curious psychic powers is the hero of the stories. Through most of the stories & essays runs irony & every one of his writings gives us furiously to think - for Jacks strips the rags & coverings from off our conventions & our conventional thought, & with remorseless logic leads us face to face with our inconsistencies & prejudices.'

Century:      Reader/Listener/Group: Charles and Pattie Stansfield     Print: Book

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