“In the Square,” by Jessie Playfair Bickford

Bickford, Jessie Playfair. “In the Square.” Crucible (Autumn 1936): 8.

“Two Ears,” by Marjorie Pickthall

Pickthall, Marjorie. “Two Ears.” Marjorie Pickthall: A Book of Remembrance, by Lorne Pierce (Toronto: Ryerson, 1925).

More gems discovered while poking about looking for obscure answers, such to the question: Was Marjorie Pickthall’s first publication—”Two Ears”—part of the “Circle of Young Canada” column in the Toronto Globe?

“Two Ears” was first published in 1898, and according to Lorne Pierce, after that publication—for which she received three dollars— she began to contribute to the “Young People’s Corner” column in The Mail and Empire. In 1899, she submitted “Two Ears” and a poem, “Song of the Nixies,” and won awards for both of them (to the tune of $15). What I still can’t figure out is whether or not “Two Ears” was originally published as part of the “Circle of Young Canada.” It would almost certainly have had to have been, but I would love to see a digitized copy of the column. The Toronto Public Library has digitized some articles, including “The Children’s Circle” on page 7 of most issues, but searches don’t turn up “Two Ears.” This does suggest, though, that the “Circle of Young Canada” might have begun life as “The Children’s Circle”… but I can only download the articles they have digitized, even though I can view the entire paper. The mind boggles.

Regardless, here is the story, “Two Ears,” from the pages of Marjorie Pickthall: A Book of Remembrance as well as an article about Pickthall from the 25 July 1925 edition of The Globe (p. 18).

“Autumn,” by Hilda Mary Hooke

Hooke, Hilda Mary. “Autumn. Canadian Bookman (October 1919): 30.

We don’t yet have an entry for Hilda Mary Hooke, although we do have a photograph, and there is at least one semi-biographical article available online.

Image from John. W. Garvin, ed., Canadian Poets, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1926).

And here is the poem in Canadian Poets (1926). At the time, Hilda Mary Hooke had not yet published a volume of poetry, but during her lifetime, she did publish a work of fiction, a collection of plays, and two stand-alone plays.

“The Night Cometh,” by Annie L. Walker

Walker, Annie L. “The Night Cometh.” Selections from Canadian Poets: With Occasional Critical and Biographical Notes, and an Introductory Essay on Canadian Poetry. Ed. Edward Hartley Dewart (Montreal: Lovell, 1864): 182-83.

 

Duet for Cello and Drum (1947), by Richard Scrace [Lydia Buckland Williamson] and her son, Owen Templeton Garrett Williamson

Scrace, Richard [Lydia Frances Williamson] and Owen Templeton Garrett Williamson. Duet for Cello and Drum (Toronto: Southam, 1947).

 

“The Royal Princess,” by Mabel Black Myers

Myers, Mabel Black. “The Royal Princess.” Crucible (Autumn 1936): 6.

“Sureness,” by Alberta Irene Morton

Another occasional poet found in our peregrinations though the digital world. Alberta Irene Morton is the daughter of a more prolific poet, Irene Elder Morton (1849-1923). As far as we can tell, Alberta published very infrequently, although she is credited with having invented a fruit washing apparatus. Her work appears in British publisher Arthur Stockwell’s Poet’s Library, in volumes 9 and 11. Here is the poem from volume 11:

Morton, Alberta Irene. “Sureness.” The Poet’s Library, vol. 11, ed. Arthur H. Stockwell (London: Stockwell, n.d.): 111.