'Meeting held at Broomfield: 22.3.1932
George Burrow in the chair
1. The minutes of last were read by Sylvanus Reynolds, who had kindly deputised for the
Secretary in his absence.
[...]
7. F. E. Pollard then spoke on the Victorians and their literature.[...] When the paper was
discussed there proved to be a very general measure of consent.[...]
Howard Smith disturbed us a little by accusing the Victorians of complacency[...].
Finally Reginald Robson deplored the disappearance of the Victorian countryside. As it was
foretold by Malthus the Economist, so it had come to pass. Over population had done its work.
There could be no more rural simplicity or village Hampdens, no more nurture of man by
nature any more. The Victorian age can be guaranteed unique: the mould from which it was
cast has been shattered.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Fairlight: 9 Denmark Rd. 18th April 1932.
Francis Pollard in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
br/>[...]
4. F. E. Pollard then spoke on the spirit of Cricket, telling some good anecdotes to illustrate its
fun and its art, both for those who play & those who frequently see it.[...]
5. Readings were then given by Victor Alexander from Nyren, by Howard Smith from Francis
Thompson, & by R. H. Robson from de Delincourt's "The Cricket Match".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at Ashton Lodge, Kendrick Rd., 13.x.32.
Henry M. Wallis in the chair
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
5. Francis E. Pollard then gave us an account of the life of Scott, interspersed with racy
anecdotes. He gave us a lively picture of Scott's romantic outlook & of his keen historical
interests.
6. Alfred Rawlings, who is endeared to us among other reasons as the stormy petrel of the
Club, next launched an attack upon Scott as a poet, decrying his imperfections and
slovenliness.
7. Henry M. Wallis then entertained us with the later work of Scott. Speaking as one wizard of
another he almost succeeed in making us believe that he had been Scott's contemporary, &
under his spell we caught something of the dazzling popularity of Scott's writings throughout
the whole of Europe, and in particular of the cult for the Highlands and the Highlanders which
sprang into being from his pen.
8. Towards the end of the evening we heard three readings, the first from Ivanhoe by Charles
Stansfield who used the supper scenne in which Friar Tuch entertains the unknown knight, the
second from the Heart of Midlothian by Frank Pollard in which Jeannie Deans pleads for her
sister's life, & the third from Old Mortality by Rosamund Wallis describing the interrogation
and torture inflicted upon the Covenanters.
All three readings held us enthralled, & all three papers aroused the maximum of discussion
which a benevolent Chairman and a lenient hostess could allow. The time sped on beyond our
usual hours, and as we took our leave we were still talking Scott.
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at School House, L[eighton]. P[ark].: 18. i. 33.
Sylvanus A. Reynolds in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved
[...]
5. Reginald Robson then spoke to us on the England of 1580 - 1590, with special reference to
the development of the Elizabethan manor house. His attractive account of Ufton Court & the
alluring photographs he passed round led several of our members to express the disre that
our picnic next July might be held there. Reginald Robson may take it therefore that he is
notified that his services as showman will be in request, and owners of motor cars are advised
to have their vehicles in repair for the occasion.
6. In the absence of George Burrow, Edgar Castle read us some notes on the literature of 1580–1590 which George Burrow had gallantly prepared on his bed of sickness.
7. Victor Alexander then spoke of the situation in France during the period in question. Some
of the Castles on the Loire were duly admired. They seem a little distant for a Book Club
picnic[...].
8. Howard Smith had hoped to speak to us of the Faerie Queen, but as he was also in the grip
of influenza Frank Pollard good naturedly discussed at short notice the versification of Spenser
illustrating his remarks very pleasingly by quotations.
9. The company then dispersed homeward through the rigours of an arctic blizzard.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue 28/4/1933
C. E. Stansfield in the chair
1 Minutes of last read and approved
2 For the Next Meeting's subject "The Jew in Literature" was chosen with Geo Burrow H. R. & E. B. Smith as
committee
[...]
4 The evening's subject of Berkshire in Literature was then opened up by Charles E. Stansfield reading from
Tom Browns School days a description of the Vale of the White Horse[.] He carried us into a quietude of time
& space where a great lover of the Vale tells of the great open downs & the vale to the north of them.
Dorothy Brain told us something of Old Berkshire Ballads surprising us with their number & variety & read an
amusing Ballad about a lad who died of eating custard, & the Lay of the Hunted Pig.
C. E. Stansfield read an introduction to "Summer is a Cumen In"which was then played and sung on the
Gramophone.
H. R. Smith read a description of "Reading a Hundred Years Ago" from "Some Worthies of Reading"
F. E. Pollard introduced Mary Russell Mitford to the Club giving a short account of her life and Work quoting
with approval a description of her as "A prose Crabbe in the Sun"
M. S. W. Pollard read "The Gypsy" from "Our Village"
Geo Burrows gave us a short Reading from Mathew Arnolds "Scholar Gypsy" and a longer one from
"Thyrsis"[.] During this the Stansfield "Mackie" put in a striking piece of synchronization.
E. B. Castle read an interesting account of the Bucklebury Bowl Turner from H. V. Mortons "In Search of
England".
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Hillsborough, Glebe Road: 15. V. 34.
Reginald H. Robson in the chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved
[...]
6. And so we turned, a little wistfully maybe, to Charles Stansfield reading from the “Earthy
Paradise”, & its rather pathetic refrain “The idle singer of an empty day”. The word pictures of the
Greek and Norse myths came vividly before our minds, and their beauty drew us very pleasantly.
7. Frank Pollard then gave us a general survey of Morris and his work, & Mary Pollard read a short
poem. Those who had some familiarity with Morris’s writings compared their impressions & the rest
of us caught something of Morris’s desire to present a different world from the unpleasant one he
lived in, and also of the joy we have in praising great men and how we turn their stories over. The
contribution of Morris, we gathered, was not so much the foregoing of life in order to live in some
deeper sense, but the happier if less heroic creation of a life in some considerable accordance with
his own ideals.
8. Howard Smith then talked to us of William Morris’s Prose Romances and read us extracts from
them. These romances were turned off, we were told, during his leisure evenings in a thoroughly
matter of fact manner reminding us perhaps of Trollope. But they were crammed full of the fanciful
& even the fantastic. Not only did the author draw upon his imagination for quaint names like
Utterhay, Evilshore, Bindalone: he also freely indulged his fancy for archaic expressions — hard by,
whilom, Child (with capital C), dight, gayass[?], hight (for named) are a few examples.
9. Finally we heard from Reginald Robson an extract from “News from Nowhere.” In this ideal world
of the poet’s dreaming there was no meanness and no money, no jarring jangle of train or tram
with rolling smoke or strident screech, nothing more disturbing than the quiet plash of the oar upon
the tranquil surface of the Thames. It may be that the the rowing boat was once itself anathema to
the aesthetes of an earlier age, but for Morris its very antiquity had hallowed its shapely curves. Is
it as well that he did not live to see the vermillion sports car [...]?'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard
'Meeting held at Oakdene, Northcourt Avenue 15. I. 35.
Sylvanus Reynolds in the Chair
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
5. It was with a great pleasure to the club to welcome back Charles and Katherine Evans, who
with the latter’s brother Samuel Bracher, came to entertain us with their programme of “Bees in
Music and Literature.”
6. Charles Evans opened with an introduction that gave us an outline of the bee’s life.[...]
7. We next listened to a record of Mendelssohn’s “Bee’s Wedding.”
8. Samuel Bracher gave a longish talk on Bees and the Poets. He classified the poems as Idyllic,
Scientific or Philosophical, and Ornamental; by quoting a great variety of works including lines
from Shakespeare, K. Tynan Hickson, Pope, Thompson, Evans, Alexander, Tennyson, & Watson,
he showed an amazing knowledge of the Poets. [...]
9. Charles Evans then spoke on Maeterlinck and Edwardes.
10. Charles Stansfield read Martin Armstrong’s Honey Harvest.
11. Another gramophone record gave us Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumble Bee”
12. Katherine Evans read from Vitoria Sackville-West’s “Bees on the Land”. Some of the lines
were of very great beauty, & much enjoyed.
13 H. M Wallis then read an extract from the Testament of Beauty, concerning Bees. But he & all
of us found Robert Bridges, at that hour in a warmish room, too difficult, and he called the
remainder of the reading off.
14. A general discussion was the permitted, and members let themselves go.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander Manuscript: Notebook
'Meeting held at 30 Northcourt Avenue
19. II. 1935
Ethel Stevens in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read (by F. E. Pollard in the regretted absence of the Secretary), heard with
wonder and admiration, & approved.
[...]
4. Edgar B. Castle, passing over the the Garden of Eden owing to a dislike of snakes, the Roman
Empire from an unwillingness to feed the lions, & other intervening ages by reason of other
prejudices, took us to Reading in 2000 A.D. Our eyes opened & our mouths watered as we heard
of the beautiful, free, sober & happy borough to be, its advent due to the efforts of Mr Lloyd
George & the Old Boys of Leighton Park. [...]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 22 Cintra Avenue: 23.6.36
Francis E Pollard in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read and, with the addition of No. 7, approved.
7. Frank Pollard then introduced the subject for the evening, Modern Authors. [...]
8. There followed a series of talks, in most cases acompanied by readings: these were in the
order named
Janet Rawlings, on E. H. Young’s “Miss Mole’
Dorothy Brain, on T. S. Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral”
R. H Robson on some Poems of W. H. Auden
V. W. Alexander on René Bazin’s “La Terre qui meurt” and “Les Oberlé”, and finally
Charles Stansfield on Winifred Holtby’s “South Riding.”'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Oakdene 22. II 1937
Sylvanus A. Reynolds in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read (by F.E.P. in regretted absence of the Secretary) & approved.
[...]
4. Howard R. Smith introduced Browning with a biographical sketch.
5. F. E. Pollard read The Italian in England.
6. S. A. Reynolds read a paper by H. M. Wallis on ‘The Bishop orders his Tomb’; & Rosamund
Wallis read the poem.
7. F. E. Pollard commented on various aspects of Browning’s works, & at intervals the following
were read:-
‘The Patriot’ by E. B. Castle.
Parts of ‘By the fireside’ & ‘Holy Cross Day’ by R. H. Robson.
Part of ‘Rabbi ben Ezra’, by C. E. Stansfield.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 22 Cintra Avenue 24. III 37
F. E. Pollard in the chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
3. Disraeli: Dorothy Brain read extracts from letters to his sister.
4. S. A. Reynolds sketched Disraeli’s political life as far as the 60’s. with passages from
McCarthy’s History of our Own Times.
5. Celia Burrow read from [André] Maurois of D’s domestic and married life.
6. After a brief statement from F. E. Pollard of D’s Chief works, H. R. Smith read from Tancred.
7. F. E. P. read a paper kindly contributed by H. M. Wallis, dealing with D’s relations with
Gladstone, Salisbury & Queen Victoria, & telling of the contrasted Gartering of Disraeli &
Salisbury after their return from Berlin in 1878.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Notebook
'Meeting held at 22 Cintra Avenue 24. III 37
F. E. Pollard in the chair.
1. Minutes of last read and approved.
3. Disraeli: Dorothy Brain read extracts from letters to his sister.
4. S. A. Reynolds sketched Disraeli’s political life as far as the 60’s. with passages from
McCarthy’s History of our Own Times.
5. Celia Burrow read from [André] Maurois of D’s domestic and married life.
6. After a brief statement from F. E. Pollard of D’s Chief works, H. R. Smith read from Tancred.
7. F. E. P. read a paper kindly contributed by H. M. Wallis, dealing with D’s relations with
Gladstone, Salisbury & Queen Victoria, & telling of the contrasted Gartering of Disraeli &
Salisbury after their return from Berlin in 1878.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at 30 Northcourt Avenue: 21.4.37.
Ethel C. Stevens in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved
[...]
6. V. W. Alexander read a paper on Jane Austen, half biographical sketch & half an appreciation
of her style.
7. F. E. Pollard quoted from Lucy Harrison’s Literary Papers some telling and illuminating
remarks, particularly about Fanny Price in Mansfield Park
8. Readings were then given
from Northanger Abbey by Celia Burrows
from Persuasion by Rosamund Wallis
from Sense and Sensibility by Francis & Mary Pollard
from Love and Friendship by Elizabeth Alexander
from Pride and Prejudice by Victor Alexander
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Victor Alexander Manuscript: Notebook
'Meeting held at 39, Eastern Avenue 18th Sept, 1944
A. Bruce Dilks in the chair.
[...]
2. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
5. Alice Joselin introduced the subject of the evening by telling us something of the life of William Blake. Born in 1757 he was living through the
beginning of the industrial revolution. He had no schooling but showed early artistic ability and was apprenticed for 7 years to an engraver. During
this time he wrote some of his early poetry. Becoming himself a professional engraver he experimented with a new method of printing “shown
to him in a vision”. As she traced the pattern of his life during the remaining 27 years, Alice Joselin gave us a portrait of an embittered man,
never well loved even by his friends and incomprehensible to his contemporaries. She concluded with an extract from a Short Survey of William
Blake by Quiller Couch.
6. F. E. Pollard said that he had been reluctant to undertake the task of talking to the Club on the literature of Wm. Blake since he was acquainted
with only three of his poems. But as this was 50% more than anyone else knew, he need not have worried. He emphasised Blakes great lyrical
gifts and his share in the poetic revolution of the C18th, even suggesting that Blake led the way. Frances Pollard illustrated his remarks by reading
from: [“]To the evening star”, “How sweet I roam” and “Memory hither come”. He also read a short extract from Jerusalem throwing out the
suggestion that the subject matter showed some influence of Thomas Payne, Quaker.
7. After some refreshment we welcomed to our meeting Mr. George Goyder who is a very keen student and collector of William Blake. It was a
great privilege to have among us one whose profound knowledge of and enthusiasm for his subject was absolutely convincing. After listening to Mr.
Goyder and looking at his many beautiful examples of Blake’s work, we were willing to allow that he is probably our greatest English artist and
equalled as an engraver only by Dürer.
The Chairman expressed our very warmest thanks to Mr. Goyder.
[signed as a true record by] J. Knox Taylor 16/X/44.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Grove House. 16th October 1944
J. Knox Taylor in the chair.
[...]
2. The minutes of the last meeting were read & signed.
[...]
5. The subject of the evening was Charles Dickens and we were once again indebted to Howard Smith for a biography. In a
skilfully condensed account of the chief events of his life, we heard of the hardships Dickens underwent in childhood, of his
sudden & quite early achievement of success & financial ease. His marriage, his many children & the unhappy atmosphere
of his home life in later years. His visits to America and his sudden death at the age of 58.
6. Muriel Stevens read from David Copperfield the account of his arrival at the house of his Aunt Betsey Trotwood.
Humphrey Hare gave us the benefit of his local knowledge and described Peggotty’s Cottage at Great Yarmouth as seen by
his Father, and also Blundestone Rookery as it is today.
7. F. E. Pollard told us something of Chestertons book on Dickens and read a number of extracts showing his appreciation
of a number some of the lesser characters. Among these were Mrs. Nickleby, Mantalini, Dick Swiveller, Mr.
Stiggins, the Rev. Septimus Crisparkle and Toots.
8. We heard with interest that a recent census of boys’ reading at Leighton Park revealed Dickens even now as the third
most popular author.
9. Arnold Joselin read from Martin Chuzzlewit the chapter where Mrs. Gamp instals herself as night-nurse.
10. Knox Taylor read from The Pickwick Papers the account of the visit to Eatanswill parliamentary election.
[signed as a true record by] Arnold G. Joselin 21 Nov. 1944'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Print: Book
'Meeting held at 7 Marlborough Avenue, 21.XI.44
A. G. Joselin in the chair.
[...]
2. The minutes of the last meeting were read and after considerable discussion &
some alteration, signed.
5. After adjourning for refreshment we listened with very great interest to some
letters from Ralph Smith and also one from a repatriated Prisoner of War giving
first hand news of him.
6. Knox Taylor opened our evening of controversial subjects by a defence of
‘Vice’. He maintained that drinking and gambling in moderation were
harmless in themselves when dissociated from their social evils. In the discussion
which followed members seemed on the whole to favour a life of virtue, being
unwilling thus to separate cause from effect.
7. Elsie Harrod spoke on the housing question and after putting forward the many
problems which must be considered by those responsible for building the houses
for this generation, she proposed that the only way of meeting all requirements
was to pass a law that no house should be built to last for more than 10 years.
The chief argument which was put forward against this was that if the house was
guaranteed to decay in 10 years what would it be like in the 2 or 3 years
preceding this limit.
8. In a vehement and convincing discourse F. E. Pollard defended Reason against
this Age of Unreason. A lively discussion which followed showed that the speaker
had largely carried his audience with him along the path of Reason, although some
of us were unwilling to part with our sub-conscious minds.
[signed as a true record by] Muriel M. Stevens 16-12-44'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 22 Cintra Avenue, Northcourt Avenue, 25th April 1945
F. E. Pollard in the chair.
[...]
2. The minutes of the last meeting were read & signed.
5. Alice Joselin introduced the subject of the evening with a biographical study of
the Brontë family. Contrary to her expressed idea that she could do little more
than recite a list of dates, Alice Joselin drew for us a vivid picture of the life at
Haworth Rectory and the way in which the three sisters took the literary world by
storm.
6. After adjourning for refreshment we turned our attentions to a study of the
works of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. First Margaret Dilks read from
“Vil[l]ette” the description of Mme. Rachel, the famous actress. Since this passage
is the only contribution Charlotte Brontë is allowed to make to the Oxford Book of
English Prose, it is presumably considered great by someone who should be
qualified to judge. But when the reader had finished, the only audible comment
from this learned gathering was “Can someone tell me what all that means?”
7. F. E. Pollard then gave us the benefit of his discerning criticism of the works of
these writers. Describing himself as of a naturally romantic & sentimental turn of
mind (cheers and prolonged applause) he championed Jane Eyre and Shirley.
There followed a lively discussion in which nearly all members took part. The
excessive wordiness of which both Emily & Charlotte are sometimes guilty, was
attributed to the bad influence of the continent on the Englishman’s [sic!] natural
restraint. Several members of the fair sex expressed a distaste for the horrors of
Wuthering Heights, one even going so far as to suggest that the author was
probably mad. Cyril Langford, reading from a newspaper article, put forward an
interesting theory that the book was the natural psychological reaction of one
whose life was mainly occupied in household duties; and Thomas Hopkins crowned
all by telling us that he had once been presented with Wuthering Heights as a
Sunday School prize. Cyril Langford also drew our attention to Jane Eyre’s
description of her own paintings, which were clearly the forerunners of surrealism.
Other readings given were:-
Howard Smith from Wuthering Heights[,]
Rosamund Wallis from Shirley[,]
& Howard Smith from The Gondal Poems[.]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at “Oakdene”, Northcourt Avenue. 2.3.43
S. A. Reynolds in the chair.
1. Minutes of the last meeting were read & approved.
[...]
5. Bruce Dilks reported on behalf of the committee, that in order to provide a
controversial evening seven people had been asked to come prepared to speak or
read about seven widely differing subjects. [...] The subjects would be open for
debate and it was not proposed to cut short an interesting discussion in order
necessarily to include 7 all subjects [...].
6. Rosamund Wallis read an extract from “The Screwtape Letters” by C. S. Lewis.
She was a lesson in the act of tempting, especially the kind of temptations into
which people are most likely to be led during war time. A discussion followed on
whether or not war produced a ‘moral torpor’ and whether it is necessary to live
dangerously, in order to develop physical and moral courage. C. S. Lewis says that
“Despair is a greater sin, than any of the sins that provoke it.”
7. Alice Joselin’s subject was Experiment in Education and she read first from E. S.
Grant-Watson’s book “The Old School” which described the founding of Bedales in
1893 and its gradual change from its cranky, ultra-idealistic outlook then into a
good modern progressive school. Her other reading was from A. S. Neil’s book
“That Dreadful School” the author being founder and headmaster of “Summerhill”.
[...] It was clear from the remarks that followed that this system of education had
no support from members of the club. Dorothea Taylor. as an old Bedalean
confirmed Grant-Watson’s A/C of the school (except that she had no recollection of
the use of the switch) and told us of the great loyalty of old scholars. [...] This led
on to the question of co-education and the very strong Sidcot contingent present at
the meeting began to throw its weight about until Howard Smith recalled that in
his Unit of the F.A.U. during the last war, the Old Sidcotians were labelled “Gods
little Gentlemen”[.] Knox Taylor exhibited himself as the exception to this rule &
the subject was considered dead. [Note: the F.A.U. is the Friends’ Ambulance Unit;
Sidcot is a co-educational school associated with the Quakers.]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Gower Cottage. 8th May ’43
Muriel Stevens in the Chair
1. Minutes of last meeting read & signed
[...]
3. Knox Taylor opened our study of Johnson & his Circle by giving us a most
comprehensive picture of the background of this period.
4. Howard Smith told us of Johnson’s life and publications.
5. Isabel Taylor read Johnson’s famous letter to Lord Chesterfield.
6. Roger Moore read ‘The Wedding Day’ by Boswell & an account of his first
meeting with Johnson.
7. F. E. Pollard described Johnson’s Circle. He spoke of Garrick, Sir Joshua
Reynolds, Burke, Goldsmith, Boswell, Richardson, Fielding, Mrs. Thrale and her
daughter Hester & others and A. B Dilks read from Johnson’s “Vanity of Human
Wishes.”
8. Mention must be made of the excellent refreshments provided by our hostess
and the Secretary regrets that owing to lack of time, she has in these minutes
done Scant justice to a most thoughtfully prepared & extremely interesting
evening.
[signed as a true record by] Howard R Smith
22/6/43 [at the club meeting held at Frensham: see Minute Book, p. 155: ‘We
adjourned indoors & the minutes of the last meeting were read, corrected and
signed.’]'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 72, Shinfield Road, 14th November 1942
Arnold Joselin in the Chair
2. In the absence of the Secretary, the Treasurer [Bruce Dilks] took it upon
himself to read the minutes which were approved and signed.
[...]
5. The subject of the evening, “The Age of Pericles” was then introduced by Knox
Taylor.
[...]
7. F. E. Pollard took up where Knox Taylor had left off, though as he remarked, he
hadn’t been left much. Thereupon we had an able discourse on the thought and
writing of the Age.
8. Arnold Joselin and Roger Moore read from Plato’s “Republic.” This was an
amusing mono-duologue between Socrates and a pupil on the subject of Justice.
Socrates, by completely tangling up his pupil, showed that the art of
schoolmastering has changed little in 2000 years.
[signed as a true record by] Harry Stevens
Dec. 12. 1942'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 72 Shinfield Road. 5th May 1941
A. G Joselin in the chair.
1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved
2. Apologies of absence were read from Violet Clough & Mr. & Mrs. Knox
Taylor.
[...]
4. Our evening was devoted to a study of the work and writings of Matthew Arnold
and we are very grateful to the Committee who arranged the programme and in
particular to A. G. Joselin and F. E. Pollard for a most interesting and enlightening
evening.
First Mr. Joselin told us something of Matthew Arnold’s work as an Educationalist —
of his attempts to secure the improvement of education & particularly secondary
education in England. His views on Education are expressed in “Culture and
Anarchy” which was published in 1869, and Mr. Joselin read several extracts from
J. Dover Wilson’s editorial introduction to this book. [...] Other readings given to
illustrate Matthew Arnold the Educationalist and Prose Writer were “Dover Beach”
by Mrs. Joselin and further extracts form “Culture and Anarchy” read by R. D. L.
Moore.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at “Hilliers”, Northcourt Avenue. 18.XI.40
Rosamund Wallis in the chair.
[...]
5. Mary S. W. Pollard read “Ode to Autumn”. Rosamund Wallis read “Ode to a
Nightingale” these served as an introduction to a talk by F. E. Pollard on Keats’
Poetry. He described his lack of interest in the affairs of the world. Contrasted
Keats’ attitude to Nature with those of Wordsworth & Shelley – told how he lived
essentially in the present and expressed this in his writings rather than regrets for
the past or hopes for the future. Keats, he thought was influenced chiefly by
Shakespeare, Spencer and perhaps Milton, while among his immediate friends the
influence of Leigh Hunt was a regrettable one. Keats in his turn had a very great
influence on most of the Poets of the 19th. Century. Finally Mr. Pollard quoted
from the Ode on a Grecian Urn:
‘Beauty is Truth, truth beauty – that is all
Ye know on earth and all ye need to know”.
adding with great temerity that he doubted the truth of this famous statement.
[...]
[signed] Howard R. Smith
13/12/40'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 70 Northcourt Avenue: 17.1.39
Charles E. Stansfield in the Chair.
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
3. A letter from R. H. Robson was then read. It stated that the excellence of Book
Club suppers has increased, is increasing, & ought to be diminished. This caused a
certain embarrassment. Several members who liked to think of themselves as
frugal folk, reflected uneasily that the interval for light refreshment had often
proved itself more palatable than some of the drier fare before and after.[...]
[...]
6. Francis E Pollard then gave an appreciation of H. G. Wells in the form of a
biographical sketch. He dealt too with the amazing variety and extent of Wells’s
output, and the development of his character and beliefs.
7. Victor W. Alexander read an extract from “God the Invisible King.”
8. Further passages were read as follows:-
Margaret J Dilks from “Mankind in the making”.
H. R. Smith from “The Sea Lady”.
Mary S. W. Pollard from “Joan & Peter”.
Muriel Stevens from “The Valley of Spiders”.
9. Finally the Chairman referred again to the Supper question. R. H. Robson’s
concern was one of those which demanded from us a statesmanlike Quaker
compromise, perhaps an acceptance in principle and a rejection in practice wold
best meet the case. It was felt we should thank R. H. Robson for his letter, and
watch him closely during heat.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
Feb. 20 1939.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 219 King’s Rd 20. IV. 1939.
Dorothea Taylor in the Chair.
1. Opening the subject of Euripides, F. E. Pollard gave some account of Athens in
the fifth century B.C. — the history from the victory over the Persians, through the
tyranny of the Athenian Empire, the degradation of standards, to the fall of the
city; & in the realm of thought, the coming of the questioning spirit typified by the
sophists, Socrates & Euripides.
2. A reading from ‘The Trojan Women’ was given by Elizabeth Alexander & Mary E.
Robson, in the characters of Cassandra & Hecuba.
3. Leslie Scott, in general comments on the poet’s quality and philosophy, noted
his contradictory reputations — serious or the reverse, nationalist or idealist? With
Dr. Verrall & Gilbert Murray, his popularity had grown immensely. He is accused
of lack of restraint, but he is human. His pathos is moving, even if occasionally
overdrawn. He breaks through stage conventions, his characters are mixed, &
reveal inner conflict. He is at his best with women, though regarded at times as a
woman-hater, at others as a pioneer of her emancipation. It is almost certain that
he deliberately ridicules the Gods. [...]
4. Muriel Stevens took Iphigenia, C. E. Stansfield Orestes, & F. E. Pollard Pylades,
from the Iphigenia in Tauris — the recognition scene.
5. Mary S. W. Pollard as Andromache, & S. A. Reynolds as Talthybius, read the
tragic scene from the Trojan Women, when it is told to his mother that the little
boy Astyanax is to be killed: &
6. Hecuba’s lament for her grandchild was read by Mary E. Robson.
7. The reading of the minutes of the last meeting was deferred.
[...]
[signed] Reginald H. Robson
19. 5. 1939'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at 39, Eastern Avenue: 24. 11. 39.
A Bruce Dilks in the chair.
1. Minutes of last [two meetings] read & approved.
[...]
7. F. E. Pollard gave a brief introduction to American literature, introducing a large
number of names including Benjamin Franklin, John Woolman, Tom Paine,
Washington Irving, Fennimore Cooper, the poet Bryant, the historians Bancroft,
Prescott and Motley, Louisa M. Alcott, Emerson, Longfellow & Whittier, Nathaniel
Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Thoreau, Harriet Beecher
Stowe, Hermann Dick, J. R. Lowell, Walt Whitman, Henry Hames, Winston
Churchill, O. Henry, & Mark Twain. He attempted very briefly to assess the place
of these & some others.
8. C. E. Stansfield read from the Autocrat at the Breakfast Table an extract in
praise of Meerschaums, Violins & Poems. We felt from the caressing tones of his
voice that like the Autocrat he gave pride of place to the Meerschaums.
9. A. B. Dilks, after a brief reference to the career and mystical experience of
Walt Whitman read from his Poems on the Sea.
10. R. D. L. Moore read a dramatic passage from the ‘Bridge of San Luis Rey[’],
describing the last hours of Brother Juniper.
11 We were, finally, introduced to Babbitt – those of us who had not previously
met him — by R. H. Robson. We were suitably amused at the manner in which
St.Clair Lewis makes his hero rise and shave.
[signed] R. D. L. Moore
19.XII.39'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Francis E. Pollard Manuscript: Unknown
