'Meeting held at Cintra Avenue
22.IV.1938
1. Minutes of last read & approved.
[...]
The following essays were read:-
authors
Mrs Stevens His Good Turn – read by Elizabeth Alexander
Miss Stevens Anne Thackeray’s Chapter from Memory read by Muriel Stevens
Mrs Dilks The Gardener [read by] H. R. Smith
H. M. Wallis Some New Thing [read by] F. E. Pollard
H. R. Smith The Cotswolds [read by] A. B. Dilks
R. H. Robson Rupert Brooke [read by] Mary S. W. Pollard
A. B. Dilks The Spacious Firmament [read by] Mary E. Robson
The essays were then successfully identified'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth T. Alexander Manuscript: Unknown
'Meeting held at Gower Cottage, 28th May 1945
Elsie D. Harrod in the chair.
[...]
4. The subject of the evening was John Ruskin, and Faith Miller gave us a most
comprehensive and absorbingly interesting account of his life, his writings and his
ideals. So complete was this survey, of a man who wrote so much & lived such a
long and full life, that your secretary finds it difficult, in writing this minute, to
maintain her reputation for being brief and to the point! But suffice it to say that
Faith Miller’s discourse drew forth one of those spontaneous burst of applause only
accorded on rare occasions for contributions of outstanding worth.
5. Cyril Langford then read a passage from “On the Nature of Gothic” setting forth
Ruskin’s principle that the working creature is either a man or a tool – he cannot
be both. He followed this with part of a modern commentary on Ruskin by R. H
Wilenski which stated quite simply that Ruskin could not write because his mind
had been drugged from birth onward by the emotive language of the Bible. This
heterodox statement aroused strong opposition but it also had some support and a
lively argument ensued, and indeed it seemed that Diplomatic relations between
members were in danger of being broken off, when came in a timely invitation to
supper from our hostess and we were united once more in our appreciation of the
excellent refreshments provided.
6. Muriel Stevens then revealed to us Ruskin’s theories on Art & Artists & we hope
she did not feel discouraged by the fact that members were apparently far more
interested in the reproductions she passed round than in what Ruskin had to say
about them. She also read from Picasso on “Cubism”, but this was a realm into
which few, if any of us, could follow her.
7. Bruce Dilks then spoke of Ruskin’s ideas on political economy & social reform.
We heard how he advocated a system of national education and attacked a state
whose system of economics was based solely on the acquisition of wealth.
8. Finally Francis Pollard read a passage from “Sesame and Lilies”, skilfully
selected to prove once & for all that Ruskin could write & that in a clear,
forceful manner readily understood by anyone of even average intellect.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Muriel Stevens Manuscript: Unknown
Meeting held at 39, Eastern Avenue, 6th June ’42
A. B. Dilks in the chair.
1. Apologies for absence were read from Muriel Stevens and Mary Stansfield
2. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.
[...]
6. After some refreshment, we spent the rest of the evening listening to recorded
exaamples of programme Music. The works played were
The Storm from Symphony No 6 in F “The Pastoral” Beethoven
Enigma Variations Elgar
‘Prospero’, ‘Miranda’, ‘Caliban’ from Sibelius incidental music to The Tempest
Zeller’s ‘Nightingale Song’ sung by Elisabeth Schuman[n]. This was put on as
an example of imitative music, of little musical worth, but was obviously much
enjoyed by many members.
Richard Strauss’ Tone Poem Till Eulenspiegle’s [sic] Merry Pranks. and
‘Romeo & Juliet’ Fantasy overture by Tchaikovsky. Isabel Taylor prefaced each
item with brief biographical notes about the composer, and Bruce Dilks explained
the literary or poetical idea of the work and also played the gramophone.
Howard R. Smith [signature]
11/7/42
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Margaret Dilks Manuscript: Letter
