No. 5 Vol. 2.
January 1930.
[64]
Wanted “Penny Dreadfuls” in volumes or sets. Cash prompt, pleasant dealings. James Madison, 323,
66
BOOK STALL FINDS.
SEVERAL of my book-hunting acquaintances would give me to understand that book bargains are a thing of the past. They say that the men with the stalls in Farringdon Market and elsewhere, are “in the know,” therefore all that is left for the outsider is “rubbish.”
To begin with, what is a book bargain? Have books any real value? No! of course they haven’t. It seems to me there are far too many so called book collectors who hunt only to make money. They buy a book, for, say 2/-, thinking it is a profitable purchase, try to sell it, cannot, and then imagine they have been “stung.”
A book is only worth what the purchaser is willing to pay for it. The “Bazaar” may value a book for you at 12/-, and yet you cannot sell it for even 2/6. On the other hand they recently valued a book for me at 8/- for which I got £1.
For three years now I have been a keen book hunter, and can say it is a most pleasant pastime, profitable to my collection, and sometimes to my pocket. Mr. Ono first set me “on the trail.” I went to see his fine collection of Old Boys Books, etc., and was so impressed that I immediately set out on the track of “Bloods.” After many fruitless hunts I came across a volume of the “Garfield Boys Journal” at a 1/-, amongst a motley assortment of books on a barrow—down a side turning off Newington Butts. But alas a year passed and not a single “Blood” could I unearth, so I gave it up as a bad job and began searching for books illustrated by Cruikshank, Hablot Brown, Leech, etc., or written by Albert Smith or Hood. In this type of book I have found many rare volumes for my library, and resold others. Several I had bought on “Spec” will never leave my bookshelf at any price.
A. F. ARNOLD.
68
THE LITERARY OLYMPIC
AND TOURNAMENT “YOUNG FOLKS’ PAPER.”
By EDWARD BLAIR.
(continued from page 64).
I REMEMBER in my own case suffering from an attack of that nasty complaint young writers are subject to at times, viz., swelled head, and stating my objection to the Third Section, and intimating that I for one would not be relegated to it, (a case of the super who would not carry a banner, but did not object to play Hamlet.)
Dear Mr. Sharp devoted nearly three quarters of a column of “Y.F.P.” dealing with my errors of omission and commission, finally dismissing me with a soothing plaster of praise to heal my wounds.
Despite my boyish conceit I had a germ of Scotch common sense somewhere at the back of my skull, and took my physic like a man, for which I received ample reward later. I mention the incident to show the patience that a brilliantly gifted gentleman took in the welfare of his Literary Cubs.
69
“The Riddle Tournament” was another highly popular department with the young contributors, where, whilst constructing acrostics, enigmas, etc., they had the opportunity of casting same in verse form, many of which were creditable little poems. My first paper will be devoted, as it should be, to our famous Tourney Queen, Miss Marion L. Taylor.
MARION TAYLOR.
IN referring to our admirable Tourney Queen, Marion Taylor, one feels at the moment inclined to cry with Shakespeare’s chorus in “Henry the Fifth,” “Oh for a muse of fire,” to proclaim her excellent gifts in both prose and verse, as they appeared to the little crowd of admiring songsters and prose writers that yielded her allegiance at that time. But as I am only using sober prose for one thing, and a glance at the engraving of the pleasant face in the Portrait Group that hangs on the wall by my desk as I write for another, convinces me that her Majesty would be as well pleased if I curbed my fiery steed lest both me and my Pegasus should come to grief together.
Enough that Miss Taylor was the only representative of Birkenhead on the River Mersey, in the little group of aspirants for that elusive thing called Literary Fame assembled under the controlling hand of William Sharp and his able assistants. Glancing casually through the sixteen volumes of “Young Folks’ Paper” on my shelves, I cannot help feeling a glow of pleasure at the industry displayed by our Lancashire sister at that time. Space prevents me quoting any of her longer prose work, but I must confine myself to one or two of the lesser of her poetical efforts.
Here is one contributed to the Tournament or Puzzle Column. It was termed a Metagram; but I must state here nearly all the puzzles contributed by the more prominent members of the band were in reality small poems.
METAGRAM.
Change the first letter of a word to form another word.
I stood alone amongst the purple heather.
And watched the cornstalks waving to and fro;
The warblers sang to greet the glorious weather;
The wavelet plashed their ceaseless song below.
And first across the hills the sun was shining,
Reflecting o’er the sea, its radiant rays,
While mem’ry’s cords around my heart were turning,
Recalling bygone days.
70
Sweet visions of the past come surging o’er me,
Bright hours that all too swiftly hurried by,
As perfect as the picture stretched before me,
Without a cloud to last the azure sky.
Had I but seen the darkness on the distance,
Had known that Fate would sever all our ways,
How different would have been the bright existence
Of happy bygone days!
‘Twere foolish thus to muse with yearning sorrow,
Of days that have for ever from me flown!
The sun may brightly shine again tomorrow,
And penetrate the shadows that have grown.
Yet still their charm enthralls me with its sweetness,
And bid me oft upon the past to gaze;
For life was like a dream of pure completeness,
In happy bygone days.
Answer: Far-Mar.
I wonder do those “Happy Bygone Days” ever recur now the amiable lady is wedded to one so deservedly popular and eminent in the Literary World as her husband, and is the mother of daughters equally as gifted as she was then? Here is one of her poems contributed to “The Olympic.” It breathes a spirit of cheerfulness and courage which helped to brighten one person I know of.
ALL IS FOR THE BEST, TO THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH.
Have courage my friend though the journey be dreary,
And far in the distance the haven of rest;
We must not demur at the crosses and trials,
Nor selfishly sigh o’er the small self denials,
Declaring ourselves to be weakly and weary,
Have you no faith my friend? ‘Tis for the best.
Have courage my friend, cares are not for you only,
We all have our share, so we must not protest,
The skies overhead could be brighter and bluer,
The friends of this world should be stauncher and truer,
The way is so dark, and the path is so lonely
Have you no faith my friend? ‘Tis for the best.
Have courage my friend, for we each have a mission,
Our patience to prove and our honour to test,
Forgive and forgiving, of wrongs be forgetful,
For life is too short to be selfish and fretful,
And deem not too high, or too low your position,
Have you no faith my friend? ‘Tis for the best.
71
Have courage my friend, and defy the grim spirit
Which burdens our hearts with a feeling depressed,
Oh stand ‘midst the formost in life’s earnest battle,
And be not dismayed at the work and the rattle,
Declaring your actions unworthy of merit.
Father knows best my friend; Father knows best.
MARION TAYLOR.
I think the above is admirable. But alas! lack of space bids me draw to a close though I should like to have quoted “Make Belief,” and one or two others, but enough has been given, I think, to show the ability of our estimable Tourney Queen to whose genius I make my humble bow and turn to the next in the happy group: Mr. Arthur E. Waite and his Fairy Poetry.
(to be continued.)
[81]
Wanted Aldine publications 1900-12, Jack Sheppard, Claude
Duval, Red Rover, Black Bess, Lion Library, 1910, Claude Duval (Miles,) New
Newgate Calendar (Harrison) Nos. 27 and on. 1864. Fulker, 50, The Chase, Couldson,
Wanted. Early
Marvels, Gems, Magnets, before 360, also Nugget Library 1-120, Young Folks
Tales 1-76, both published by Henderson about 1906-9. Best prices given. Medcraft,
[82]
FOR
A Collection of Penny
Dreadfuls, Highwaymen and Pirate Fiction, Old Boys Journals, etc.,
Comprising Black Bess, the longest romance in the English
language; The Seypoy’s Daughter, Gretna Green, The Haunted Woman, The Bottle,
Black Prince, London Apprentice, Days of Hogarth, Rook the Robber, The Felon’s
Daughter, Boy Brigand, New Mysteries of London, Boy Actor, Follow my Leader,
Joseph Wilmot, Rye House Plot, Tales of Pirates, Silver Axe, Brigands of the
Sea, Nan Darrell the Highwayman’s Daughter, The Pirate of the Gulf of Mexico,
Frank Fearless, Harry Racket Scrapegrace, Captain Jack, Life in London, Captain
Kyd, Rose Mortimer, Fanny White, The She Tiger, Clifton Grey, Dombey &
Daughter, Town & Country, Edith the Captive, Edith Heron, Mysteries of the
Old Castles of France, Adventures of a Gentleman, Marmaduke Midge, Robert
Bruce, Wagner the Wehr Wolf, Rosa Lambert, Mary the Gipsy, Robert Macaire,
William Tell, May Middleton, Knight of the White Banner, Mazeppa, Protector’s
Secret, Golden Marriage, Miser of Shoreditch, Gallant Tom, Loves of Paris,
Mysteries of Marlborough House, The Dark Woman, Ned Nimble Series complete,
Robin Hood, Vice and its Victims, Don Zalva, Captain Macheath, Paul the
Reckless, Dick Turpin, Death Ship, Miller and his Men, Captain Hawk, Gipsy Boy,
Jack Cade, Slave King, Mysteries of Old St. Pauls, George Barnwell, Ela the
Outcast, Harvest Home, Susan Hopley, Tom Wildrake’s Schooldays, First False
Step, North American Romances, Flying Dutchman, Jack Sheppard, Will Watch, King
of the Sea, Gipsy Chief, Richard Parker or Mutiny at the Nore, Black Monk,
Royal Twins, Ralph Rollington’s Schooldays, Newgate, The Brigand, Old House of
West Street, Jonathan Bradford, Jack Junk, Castle of Vivaldi, Black Mantle, Don
Caesar de Bazan, Mysteries of Oronza, Tyburn Dick, Wat Tyler, (Purkess’ Library
of Romance, comprising Herne the Hunter, The Vampire, Starlight Bess, etc.)
Charley Wag, Nightshade or Claude Duval, The Slapcrash Boys, Smuggler King,
Blue Dwarf, Tom Torment, Headless Horseman (1st issue), Scalp Hunters,
Mysteries of New York, Boys of Canem Academy, Gentleman Jack or Life on the
Road, (with the folding plates), Black Bess with large coloured and plain
plates also large coloured portrait of Dick Turpin, Mendicants of London,
London Errand Boy, Claude Duval, Sailor Crusoe, Women of London, Harry
Halliard, Ticket of Leave Man, Poisoners & Slow Poisoning, Vanderdecken
& many others; Halfpenny Journal, (all issued), 1st 6 vols Boys of England,
1st 3 vols Young Men, vols 1-2 Boys of the World, 4 vols Young Folks, 5 vols
Penny Miscellany, Halfpenny Miscellany (all issued), 1st 2 vols Every Week,
vols 3-4 Young Englishman’s Journal, 3 vols London Herald. The foregoing collection comprises about 350
vols of Romances and 150 various by
Also the following by Mr. C. A. Reade, F.R.H.S. first editor of Young Folks, and Mrs. C. A. Reade who edited Young Folks to the end of its publication;
Savourneen Dheelish, Aileen Aroon, Dorothy Debenham, Silvermere. Confessions of a Jockey, Milly Davidson, Phyllis & Corydon. The following cut from Young Folks and mounted in rough books; Hidden Snares, Berthold, Tempted & Tried, The Groves of Blarney, The Doctor’s Daughters, Golden Bangles, The Secret of Abuna Kudos, Love’s Service, Odysseus, his Wanderings & Adventures, Dark Deeds, a tale of underground London, The Sefton girls (galley proof), Under a Curse, original MS, Loves Service, original M.S., God’s Justice, type-written, 481 pp., The Mays, original M.S., and other odd M.S.S. A collection of over 100 ORIGINAL PEN AND INK DRAWINGS used for illustrating the following: The Doctor’s Daughters, Golden Bangles, Theodora, The Blue Cockade, Puck’s Hall, and a very fine set (28), only 27 were published, by W. Boucher, illustrations to The Goldsmith’s Ward, size 15in x 12in. All appeared in “Young Folks Paper.”
The whole of the above interesting and unique collection price £350
John Jeffery,
35. High Street, Barnes,
Can be inspected by Appointment.