1950

THE
M O N T H LY L E T T E R
FOUNDED
N E W S
1908
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P R O G R A M M E S
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14 Elm Street, Toronto
FEBRUARY
19 5 0
A WORD FROM MRS, WEBSTER
When Mrs. Bessie Webster, a f t e r twenty-five years association with t h e Club,
announced t h a t she must leave us t o seek some peace and rebuild her h e a l t h ,
opportunity was given Members t o express t h e i r esteem of the good lady by subscribing t o the Bessie Webster Fund.
George T. P e p a l l , in charge of t h i s endeavour, reported on January 17 from his
room in the Toronto General Hospital, t h a t t h i s Fund reached i t s objective of
two thousand d o l l a r s . The purse was presented at the Christmas Dinner, where
Mrs, Webster was a s p e c i a l and honoured guest. In response t o the Club's r e c ognition of her leave-taking, Mrs. Webster w r i t e s as follows:
"To t h e p r e s i d e n t , Members of the Committee, and Club Members:
Dear S i r s :
I have no words to express my thanks t o you a l l , but I
f e e l I must write t o say i t was wonderful. You a l l know
how I f e e l about i t and I am indeed g r a t e f u l . The evening I s h a l l never f o r g e t , and the lovely s u r p r i s e . My
roses were grand. I cannot yet seem t o get quiet in myself, but I know I must. Everyone was lovely t o me and I
was no worse t h e next day, only t i r e d . Today I am walking
b e t t e r and not so nervous about myself. I wish t h e Club
every p r o s p e r i t y , and a l l t h e members a Happy New Year.
Yours s i n c e r e l y ,
"Bessie Webster."
Mrs. Webstar i s assured of our continued i n t e r e s t i n her h e a l t h and happiness.
- 2 -
ARTHUR LISMER DINNER
At t h e r e q u e s t of t h e e d i t o r s , Bertram Brooker
reports:
"One of our most famed members, Arthur Lismer, who used t o s i t
chuckling and cartooning while Lawren H a r r i s and o t h e r s disputed
around t h e Group of seven t a b l e every Saturday noon, came back t o
t h e club l a s t month i n a b l a z e of g l o r y . Before t h e formal opening of h i s one-man e x h i b i t i o n a t t h e Toronto Art G a l l e r y , attended
by 600 p e o p l e , scores of h i s old f r i e n d s welcomed him, h i s wife
and daughter, a t a buffet dinner i n t h e c l u b . The Montreal s t a n d ard published a wonderful p i c t u r e of Arthur standing on a c h a i r ,
with h i s arms r a i s e d l i k e an e v a n g e l i s t , recounting some of t h e
Group's early adventures.
t h e r e was a cocktail b a r .
At the Gallery, for the f i r s t time,
I t was well patronized*"
POLITICAL NOTES
The Club h a s n ' t produced a prime Minister yet but i t may not be long, public
figures of only s l i g h t l y l e s s e r eminence continue to emerge from t h i s unique
haven of s p i r i t u a l and physical nourishment. To w i t : Norman Ingram has been
duly elected Deputy Reeve of North York, a suburb t h a t may be known t o some of
the older members; G. Blair Laing, beginning h i s seventh year as a member of
Toronto's Board of Education, has been elevated t o the Chairmanship of t h e
Board.
ART FOR ARTyS SAKE
Tough jobs don't frighten Fellow Member William Arthur Irwin, as he has amply
proven by accepting t h e appointment as Commissioner of t h e National Film Board.
According to t h e record, Art began h i s business career f i l l i n g castor o i l
b o t t l e s in a drug s t o r e when he was a boy. After graduating from the University
of Toronto in 1921, with two years of war service behind him as well as a mixed
bag of experiences t h a t included being f r u i t picker, sales clerk, r a i l r o a d cons t r u c t i o n man and book salesman, Art got down to the serious business of pursuing h i s t r u e love, journalism. He worked on the Mail and Empire as a reporter
and moved over t o t h e Globe in 1923 as feature writer and, l a t e r , sessional correspondent in the parliamentary press g a l l e r y a t Ottawa and e d i t o r i a l w r i t e r .
Art resigned from t h e Globe in 1925 t o become associate editor of Maclean's Magazine, a p o s i t i o n he held u n t i l 1942 when he became managing e d i t o r . He was
named editor in 1945 and held that job u n t i l accepting the Film Commissionership
early t h i s year.
That Art Irwin w i l l continue to turn in a top-grade performance i n his new chore
no one w i l l doubt for a moment and, c e r t a i n i t i s , every one w i l l wish him t h e
best of luck. Including the Club Member who was overheard mumbling t o himself,
"Film Board got a damn sight b e t t e r man than i t deserves."
- 3 CCME TO THE CINEMA
Chuck Matthews has been filming and filing a motion picture record about Club
Members and club activities for a good many years and, on Saturday, February
25th, he will amaze and amuse us with a showing of this feature length flicker*
A£ historical, documentary film guaranteed to rouse nostalgic memories for older
Club Members, it should have both interest and significance for some of the
newer ones whose knowledge of our history is necessarily slim.
mm
A memo t o president Moorhouse from Chairman of the Membership Committee, David
Ouchterlony, points up our responsibility when proposing new names for the
Club's roster. Writes the Chairman:
"Some members ' names have been placed on Application Forms of persons either completely unknown to them or on the strength of, say,
sharing a table for lunch on an occasion. We cannot feel that
further steps can be taken in such instances to post an applicant
for admittance to the Club without additional screening and indeed
have in some cases found very active opposition to a name which
happens to be known t o Club Members generally. Members should
realize that i t is a serious responsibility to alllow one's name
to be used to substantiate an application."
MM.
ELAYS AND PLAYERS
To a f u l l and a p p r e c i a t i v e house, thespians of t h e Heliconian Club and of t h e
Arts and L e t t e r s club j o i n t l y presented on February 4 an evening of v a r i e t y
a c t s , . . . T h e f i r s t serious dramatic p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e Club's season i s booked
i n f o r March 10 and 1 1 , and i s being h a i l e d a s promising two nights of r e a l l y
good t h e a t r e . Following i t s premiere a t t h e Club i t w i l l be an e n t r y i n t h e
Dominion Drama F e s t i v a l . The p l a y : "The Drums Are Out," by John Coulter.
The p l a y e r s : Bob Allworth, John Watson, Stanley Cooper, Tom Deacon, s e v e r a l
persons from outside Club ranks, including Sheila Craig, daughter of Member
Jim Craig. Directed by B i l l y Milne, s e t by Oxford Macneill. The March 10th
and 11th performances of The Drums Are Out w i l l be t h e p l a y ' s f i r s t p r e s e n t a t i o n i n Canada, although t h e work i s on t h e permanent r e p e r t o r y of t h e Belfast
Repertory Company and of t h e Abbey Theatre of Dublin, where i t r a n f o r f i v e
s t r a i g h t weeks t o packed houses. D e t a i l s of t i c k e t s a l e w i l l be announced by
special letter at an early date.
WELCCME GUESTS
Recent d i s t i n g u i s h e d v i s i t o r s t o t h e Club have included C l i f f o r d Curzon, noted
B r i t i s h p i a n i s t , and Marc Connelly, author of such well-remembered s t a g e p r o ductions a s The Farmer Takes a Wife, Beggar on Horseback and Green p a s t u r e s .
C e r t a i n memorable i n c i d e n t s i n connection w i t h t h e l a s t - m e n t i o n e d p l a y a r e , i n
themselves, enough t o a s s u r e a c o n t i n u i n g welcome f o r Mr. Connelly a t t h e Elm
Street Playhouse.
- 4 LOST
Norman Alexander brings the disturbing news that a portfolio of 18th CenturyItalian prints displayed in last Spring1 s typography and Book Production show
has not been returned to the owner who was kind enough to lend it* Does anyone know what happened to these 15 or 20 prints, about 24" x 15" in size?
Early news will be much appreciated.
INCIDENTAL INTELLIGENCE
Humphrey Carver, presently Chairman of the Research Committee, for the Central
Mortgage and Housing Corporation and sometime sergeant-at-arms for the Clubfs
Boar's Head Dinner, journeyed down from Ottawa on January 20th to address the
Ontario Association of Architects on the topic "The social aspect of the Canadian housing need*" ...Charley Hutchins, who two years ago forsook the Club
and Toronto for life on the far western frontier, has joined talents with another expatriate Torontonian, Todd Russell, to form Russell Hatchins Productions of Hollywood, Calif., a partnership formed for the avowed purpose of
psawning television productions. In view of the not inconsiderable talent embodied in this twosome we will be surprised if they do not survive in the jungle
of Hollywood. Any member wishing to correspond with Hutch can address him at
2024 North Argyle, Hollywood, 28, Calif.•.,
Despite the speed and directness of modern communications, word of Hutchfs doings reached us via Mexico, from R, York Wilson who reports that he will reappear locally about the first of April. His letter concludes, tfBappy, Happy
New Year to any of those alert people who may wonder why I haven't been to
the Club for the last day or two."....
Also in the way of greetings to Club Members, the following cables: "Liquid
greetings to your Suas Dinner guests wassail"; from Wilgress, sojourning in
England,... MThe London Savages send their fraternal greetings to the Arts
and Letters Club wishing them a happy Christmas and long life to our brotherly
union;" from George Baker, Honorary Secretary; and New Yearfs greetings, also
from George Baker on behalf of his fellow Savages, "A toast to our brethren of
the Arts and Letters Club (stop) Long life to the affiliation of our two Clubs
and affectionate greetings to you all individually and collectively for a
Happy New Year."
Milton Blackstone, travelling light and fast and far, reports in from Hotel
Ealliser, Calgary, which presumably has a forwarding address, "Left Toronto in
October to escape its cold weather and went to Banff for the hot sulphur baths.
Weather, baths and company of Phillips, Grandmaison and Beil (all artists) very
beneficial. Next stop — Vancouver, visiting Lawren Harris and Harry Adaskin,
Then California with visits to Frank Hemingway and Adolph Koldofsky, another
2nd violin of the Hart House quartet. In March Arizona's art colonies, then
New Orleans, Hope to see you all again at Easter. All this cannot make up for
the events I am missing at that dear old Elm Street rendezvous." Bnmph}
- 5 -
FREDERICK E. ROBSON
The death of a long time club member, Fred Robson, occurred on January 16th.
In h i s lifetime Mr. Robson expended much effort on public service. He founded
the Big Brother organization and was i t s president for five years. He founded
t h e Men of t h e Trees Society and was i t s president for s i x years, and he founded
the Canadicraft Society. At t h e time of h i s death Mr. Robson was president of
the English-Speaking Union. In 1937, in recognition of h i s many services t o
Canadians, he was awarded t h e Coronation Medal, Mr. Robson was associated with
T. P . Loblaw in the e a r l y days of the Loblaw chain s t o r e s in Toronto. For 12
years he lived i n England and was a merchandising counsel for firms t h e r e , and
at t h e time of h i s death he was president of t h e Robson Oil Co. of Bowling Green,
Ky. Born in Lindsay, Ontario, in 1884, Mr. Robson i s survived by h i s widow, the
former Emma Lithgow of Middlesboro, England.
PAIJOTERS AND PAINTINGS
Lawren H a r r i s , now of Vancouver, has been appointed t o t h e Board of Trustees of
t h e National Gallery . . . Peter Haworth's exhibition of water colors, hung at
t h e club immediately before Christmas. From there i t was shown at the MacLaren
Advertising Company's g a l l e r y and has been followed t h e r e by a Jack Bush exhibition.
The drawings that adorned the hall over Christmas were the work of Syd Watson,
Bill Winter, George Pepper, Stan Cooper, jack Bush, Alec panton, Jack Martin
and Bruce Stapleton . . . a recent show by non-professional a r t i s t Member
Erichsen Brown was appreciated . . . The Lismer dinner and retrospective exhibition are reported elsewhere in this bulletin . . . Some of the Owen Staples
paintings are s t i l l available at $10 each. Interested Members should see
George McMurtrie.
Of the arresting new show hanging in the Club dining hall, cleve Home, Chairman of the Picture Committee, offers t h i s information and opinion: "The new
show is a contemporary exhibition by six painter-Members of the Club — Bert
Brooker, Jack Bush, Stan Cooper, John Martin, L. A. C* Pant on and Sydney Watson.
Each of these men has contributed two examples of what he considers his best
work of a progressive nature. Each painting may be considered not only an experiment in the field of current thinking in art, but each canvas has been accepted by colleagues of the group as competent work. I venture the opinion
that this is one of the best small collections currently to be seen in t h i s
count ry f ft
- 30 -
Notes for future issues of the Club letter will be welcome. Send them to Member
Howard Gerring*
February 20, 1950.
THE
MONTHLY
LETTER
P O U N D E D 19C
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P R O G R A M M E S
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14 Elm Street, Toronto
M I D S U M M E R
~ 1 9 5 0
UNUSUAL EXHIBITION
It seems safe to say that no Art Gallery in the country could
present such an array of pictures, by outstanding Canadian artists as
that now on the Club walls*
Thanks to the generosity of member C, A. G. Matthews, 25 pictures from his collection and thanks to William Hogarth, 16 pictures
from his, are at the Club on loan.
Best known figures in Canadian art are represented:
L # A. C$ Panton
Andre Lepine
Mary Dignam
J, W. Beattie
Tom Thomson
J. E. H t MacDonald
Stanley Cooper
R, Jacobi
Franz Johnston
Frank Carmichael
Aii Y . Jackson
J» E* Sampson
A. J# Casson
J»- ¥• Morrice
Jt G. Gauthier
Charles Comfort
Lawren Harris
Eric Aldwinckle
J# S. Hallam
Arthur Lismer
Sir Frederick G f Banting
Albert H t Robinson
H # S. Palmer
- 2 A FORMER PRESIDENT RETIRES
Ivor Lewis, a founding member of the Club, and one of a long and illustrious line of our Presidents, announced his retirement as a Director of the T #
Eaton Company some weeks ago. Eminently successful as a business man, Ivor well
demonstrated the truth that if a man is really big enough, he can succeed - in
the field of business and in the field of Art. The sort of career, in fact, that
one would expect from a talented Welshman. Ivor will be a more frequent visitor
at the Club than has been possible in the last few years.
IT HAPPENED IN APRIL
On Saturday, April 29th, the last "monthly" of the current season, an
informal concert of infinite variety was presented by four gifted musical members
of the Club#
Samuel Hersenhorn, violinist, opened the proceedings, with Gordon
Hallett, pianist, playing a Hebraic suite in three movements, by Lazare
Saminsky. A fine performance of a fascinating work embodying traditional minor themes. As an encore - Nigun from Baal Shem suite of
Bloch.
A charming style and versatility was revealed by Nicholas Goldschmidt.
After fine singing in an old English song and a Hugo Wolf lieder, he
concluded with a group of delightfully contrasted Czech, Moravian and
Slovak Folk Songs, The singer not only prefaced the songs with explanatory remarks but accompanied himself at the piano •
The last of the group was the always welcome Bela-Boszormenyi-Nagy, who
opened in majestic style with Bach. He followed this with Schubert's
Andante in C Sharp Minor, in a sensitive performance which revealed
fully its haunting themes. He concluded with a rousing performance of
Bartok!s Roumanian Dances. A Chopin number was given as an encore.
For an evening of fine music of high entertainment value, it would be
difficult to surpass and full credit must be given all participating
artists and to the entertainment committee who excelled themselves with
this effort•
RON WILSON WENT TO MEXICO
The following is written at the request of Howard Gerring and was not
paid for by the Mexican Tourist Bureau.
Mexico is the ultimate as a Vacationland* Temperatures on the Plateau
range between a low of 50 and a high of about 80j topcoats are useless and overcoats unheard of. Flowers bloom year 'round.
- 3October to April is the dry season. Not a drop of rain fell during the
entire six monthsJ in other respects Mexico is decidedly wet, a circumstance
easily understood with Rum at $1.50 per gallon, Tequila 50 cents a quart and our
own Canadian Club Rye at $2.75* Contrary to rumour most Mexican food is not
highly spiced nor particularly hot either from the standpoint of temperature or
quality.
Cactus is the plant most in evidence, grows wild, is also cultivated.
It bears two abundant crops of pears annually and the young leaves are cooked and
eaten as a vegetable. The old, very large leaves are dried and used for fuel.
The Maguy variety of Cactus is the source of both Pulque and Tequila.
The Mexican people as a whole are not rich which is unfortunate since
there is no income tax. The property tax on an average size home works out to
about $5#00 a yearj cigarettes (including tax) can be bought for as low as lfef
for a package of 20, Certainly the Government can!t be said to be keeping the
people poor.
(Advertisement)
A Visual commentary on Mexico was opened at the
New Laing Galleries, 194 Bloor St. West on May 20th.
The building designed by Gordon Adamson housed an exhibition by R. York Wilson.
R. YORK WILSON. R.C.A,« Exhibition
As the first of a series of Exhibitions of paintings by outstanding Canadian artists, Laing1s
Gallery in May showed a group of some 35 recent
Mexican canvasses by member Wilson.
DOMINION DRAMA FESTIVAL
At the Spring presentation, Hart House, Maxwell Wray the British adjudicator, closed a week of enthusiastic performances. Announced member John
Coulter the winner of the Lieutenant-Governor's award for the best Canadian play
by a Canadian author, with his "The Drums are Out", directed by member W. S. Milne.
The Club won the Samuel French Challenge Trophy for having entered the Play.
SYMPHONY PREMIERE
The first performance of Drf Healey Willan1 s Symphony No. 2 in C. Minor
took place on May 18th at Massey Hall by the Royal Conservatory of Music under
the direction of Dr. Ettore Mazzoleni*
MISCHA EIMAN
World famous violinist for half a century was a guest at the
Club while in Toronto as guest artist with Toronto SymphonyOrchestra •
CHALLENER'S MISSING MJRAL ,,.
Intended some years ago for a prominent home in Winnipeg never reached
its destination by some odd chance. Member Fred ChaUener is now pleased to
learn that the missing child of his art, a water color of woods and water, has
turned up and now has a home in the Winnipeg Art Gallery,
REVEREND FRANCIS JOHN MOORE ..,
Club member, a former resident of Toronto and a familiar figure at our
Christmas festivities, rector of the Church of the Advent, Cincinnati, was a recent visitor* He has been appointed by the National Council
of the Episcopal
Church, editor of the Church publication, "The Messenger11, after 12 years of work
as acting-editor•
ART GALLERY OPEN HOUSE WEEK
This event took place April 10th to April 16th last and included demonstrations in metal work and jewellery, ceramic sculpture, stained glass, and an
exhibition of contemporary Canadian arts* Member Sydney Watson, O.S,A,, C#S«P.W,C<
gave a demonstration in Gouache (water color medium) and member J, S, Hallarn,
A.R.CA,, O.S,A., a demonstration in oil painting.
MEMBER-PEREGRINATE MILTON BLACKSTONE WROTE US FROM PHOENIX. ARIZ:
"Bought two oils in San Francisco in a bar-room in the Old Barberry Coast
Section, Young unknown but promising artists, proteges of the bar owner,
hang and sell their paintings there. Sawdust on the floor, beards on the
young men, hope and hunger in the faces of the female Bohemians 1 f The
address is 12 Adler Place,
"In Los Angeles, prominent ex-Torontonians are Adolph Koldofsky, who
bought Jack Dempsey's magnificent home in Hollywood and who has become
protege and friend of Arnold Schoenberg, the composer who wrote and dedicated a Sonata for Koldofsky. Koldofsky is recording all Schoenberg1s
chamber music for one of the major companies.
"Then there is Cecil Figelski, formerly first viola in the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra, Called to Baltimore by Reg. Stewart in same capacity. Now
considered the best violist here,
"Next is Zara Nelsova, cellist, whose recording in London last autumn of
Bloch!s fShelomof with the London Philharmonic, has recently been put on
the American market,
- 5"Have discovered a crippled artist (infantile paralysis) by the name of
Marjorie Mathews. Am bringing back 3 of her water colors which I think
will gladden all Arts and Letters eyes. She paints in water colour with
a palette knife1 And what effects she produces11
"Tonight am having the first of a series of meetings with Frank Lloyd
Wright, who lives a few miles from Phoenix.
"Wish I could send you some of this dry 90° weather. Greetings to all."
(Thank you, Milton, your news is very welcome but
kindly retain the weather.)
FRANCIS CHAPMAN
Architect, a son of a brilliant architect who was a former President of
the Club, has been awarded a Scholarship which will take him to Paris for his
studies*
LIBRARY
The Club!s library has been enriched by a gift from member J. De N.
Kennedy. Three books from his pen are now available viz: "History of the Department of Munitions and Supply (Canada) during the War Years", in two volumes;
"Crime in Reverse", a courtroom paradox and "The Rain of Death", an account of
one of the late Mr. Hitler's whimsies. The thanks of the Club go to Jack Kennedy
for these books.
B. 0. Ft ON THE WING
Chuck Matthews is a man of ideas and one of his latest is the "Birds of
a Feather" group who fill a table at luncheon on Wednesdays. The Club hopes that
other groups will follow Chuck1s lead, which tends towards brighter luncheons and
reduced deficits* Who knows, we might see re-born, the "artists" or even the
"knockers" tables of old.
While we are on this subject, members are invited to form the habit of
coming to the Club for luncheon at least once a week ... guests they bring will
be made welcome.
MEXICAN SCENES
Member Leonard Brooks recently held an exhibit in April of some
31 paintings, in Childs Gallery, Boston, the result of three
years of study and work in San Miguel de Allende.
~ 6The Journal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
carried an interesting article by T« A, Reed on Torontofs
early architects* In the same number (February) Humphrey
Carver contributed "The Social Aspects of Housing",
ORIGINAL MEMBER PASSES
Francis H, Coombs, a founding member of the Club, whose memory
is green with some of our older members, died in Toronto recently at the age of 83, Mr. Coombs was for 35 years a teacher
at the Royal Conservatory of Music,
VISITOR FROM LONDON
Ian M t Leslie, Editor of "The Builder", a highly regarded British Architectural Journal paid us a visit during the International
Fair* In addition to
the Fair he was greatly impressed by Fred Challenerfs outstanding Canadianism Fred and Canon Ward having joined forces to show him around the first Saturday he
was in Toronto,
MEMBER-IN-EXILE
A* T. Wilgress who left us long since to take up residence in England
writes that we may get out the red carpet against his return to Toronto in September. "Cap" Wilgress will be warmly welcomed on his return to the Club,
Alex, Edmison, formerly executive director of the John Howard Society
of Ontario, has accepted the post of assistant to the principal at Queen's University, Kingston,
P, M, Richards, assistant editor of "Saturday Night", appeared on a
Citizens Forum radio program. The subject was company financed pension plans*
- 7Cleeve H o m e and Tom Deacon appeared on recent front covers of "Saturday
Night" #.# Cleeve on March 21st in connection with his chairmanship of the Toronto
Art Gallery's Jubilee Year Canadian Art Show • •• Tom on the April 4th cover highlighting an article on interior decorating.
CHAIRMAN HOUSE COMMITTEE ,,f
Says that the Board Room is available for members who wish to arrange
committee or group meetings at lunch and carry on into the afternoon. Luncheon
costs $1*50 per plate or 12 for $15*00* (Arrange with Mrs, Beattie.)
MEMBER MAVOR MOORE DIRECTS P.P. BROADCAST
Representative of the International Refugee Organization, sent to Canada
on a check on the welfare of D # P # f s resettled in this country, was impressed by a
broadcast "Tomorrow for Two" directed by Club member Mavor Moore, showing how two
former inmates of an Austrian D.P, camp had become useful, happy members of the
Canadian community and for the first time in many years had learned to enjoy living.
REQUEST FROM ABROAD
Geza de Kresz has been invited to represent Canada in the Jury
of the International Competition for Musical Performance to be
held in Geneva, Switzerland, in September* He will also play
in concerts in Switzerland and in France*
SISTER-CLUB PRIVILEGES
Arts and Letters Club members have privileges in:
The Arts Club, 2027 Victoria Street, Montreal.
Telephone: Lancaster 676S
The Salmagundi Club, 47 - 5th Avenue, New York.
Telephone: Gramarcy 3-5870
The Savage Club, 1 Carlton House Terrace, London, England,
Harry Tedman, Associate-Secretary, will give members a letter of
introduction on request.
——0O0
July 13th, 1950,
THE
M O N T H LY
LETTER
F O U N D E D 19C
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P R O G R A M M E S
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14 Elm Street, Toronto
O C T O B E R - 1 9 5 0
THE LAST MONTHLY DINNER of the Club year was held on Saturday night, September
30 in the Great Hall with a large attendance and much hilarity* President
Walter Moorhouse in the chair• There were seventy-eight valiant trenchermen,
their appetites whetted for the feast by the usual mild but colourful aperitif
deftly ladled out by Jim Wardropper aided by Lacey Amy, who, after a few words
of welcome by the scarlet-robed President, a Latin grace by Jim Wardropper and
a verse of the National Anthem, sat down to discuss the good food and the
topics of the momentt Sixty minutes later, with the tables swiftly cleared
the seats re-arranged, Jack McLaren became Master of Ceremonies and in his
usual felicitous fashion introduced the four speakers of the eveningi - Dr.
Harry Ebbs, Cleeve H o m e , York Wilson and George Pepper, who proceeded to
entertain their audience with informal accounts 6f their outstanding activities of the Summer, a thoroughly good entertainment throughout.
RONALD YORK WILSON famed for his familiarity with Mexico and Mexicans, showed
some striking colour slides, which he further illumined by his running comment
upon the pictures and the pleasant way of life of an artist in the golden sunshine of Mexico, the amiability of the artless Mexican and his guileless inability to distinguish between mine and thine, - especially as to the detachable minor parts of one*s motor-car, which were wont to vanish miraculously
but could usually be retrieved at a trifling cost from local vendors. Mexico
is obviously the holiday-maker1s Utopia.
DR. HARRY EBBS recently returned from a Congress of three-score international
specialists in Zurich, Switzerland, showed a series of random shots in colour
taken with his Leica, during his travels in Switzerland, Italy, Holland and
Norway, with an entertaining commentary upon the display, the pictures of
children being especially good*
CLEEVE HORNE devoted his time to the showing of a nuniber of colour slides taken
in North Africa, Spain and Italy. The scenes in Morocco and Florence were
outstanding, and the explanatory narrative of his journeyings in these distant
lands added much interest to the slides.
GEORGE PEPPER displayed no photographs but he gave a vivid word-picture of
his wanderings upon a summer outing in Newfoundland, Labrador and the French
Island of St. Pierre, famous in distant Prohibition days as a base of supplies
for U. S. rum-runners. The old Reid Railway meanders through Newfoundland,
from St. John!s on the east ccast to Point aux Basques on the west. Despite
the many natural attractions of Canada1s vast tenth Province, accommodation
for tourists is notably lacking, but the native hospitality of the Islanders
is warm and ready toward strangers* Labrador, a grim region hitherto known
only to the Hudson1 s Bay Company, Canadian explorers, the R.CM. Police.
Dr. Grenfellfs Missionaries and a few nomadic Indians, has now become prominent
by reason of the development of its immensely rich deposits of iron ore.
- 2 THE ISLAND OF ST. PIERRE provided a touch of romance; permission to enter had
to be obtained from the French Consulate which looks askance at wandering
intruders, but the magic word "Canada11 opened the portals of the islands and
wreathed the Consular features with smiles. "Ah-h~h,- Canadiensl Oui, oui,~
entrez vousl" Remote and outdated in some respects yet the Islanders radiated
an old world grace and courtesy most refreshing to the visitors, Mr, Pepper
told the tale of his travels with charm. The four entertainers were heartily
applauded by an appreciative audience,
PERSONAL NOTES
George McMurtrie happily celebrated a birthday on October 5 to
a harmonious chorus of "Many Happy ReturnsI" from his intimates.
Especially welcome to the Monthly Dinner was Prof. A, W, McConnell
on his way, via motor-car and Florida to his home in Nassau,
Bahamas, and looking in the best of health and good spirits.
News from England is that Allan Wilkie, a former Member of the Club
has been busy giving dramatic recitals and lectures on the theatre
in the Midland counties. He and Mrs. Wilkie live in Congresbury,
near Bristol, Somerset.
MEMBER BRIAN DOHERTY*S CANADIAN REVUE "One for the Road" is set to open in
Ottawa on November 6th. Toronto will be privileged to see it later. This
show was picked from the best of the Red Barn Theatre shows given last summer.
NICHOLAS GOLDSCHMIDT conducted a Summer School of Music, at the University of
British Columbia and has since conducted a Prom Symphony Concert at Varsity
Arena.
ELIE SPIVAK returned in August from a five months visit to Europe. He toured
every corner of the little Jewish Republic giving concerts in Tel Aviv, Haifa,
Jerusalem and in many camps before vast audiences whose appreciation was, as
Elie puts it, "fantastic, simply fantastic".
HERMAN VOADEN and his wife are in Europe, Herman is enjoying his sabbatical
year and will spend it in studying play writing and production in the Old
Land,
JOHN COULTER, author of Turf Smoke, Louis Riel, and other plays, spent his
summer in Muskoka at work on two new plays, one of which he hopes to have
finished this autumn,
NICHOLAS HORNYANSKY also tarried in Muskoka, ruminating over the antics of
water bugs and the music of bull frogs. He advises that there will be no
print show by the Society of Painter-Etchers this year. The annual print
collection goes to Boston and the New England States this season.
-3SCULPTURE IN TREES - a successful and novel show was held in August through
the co-operation of the Laing Galleries, the Parks Department, the firm of
Wickett and Craig, and was directed by Elizabeth Wyn Wood and Arthur Tracy,
President and Secretary of the Sculptor1s Society of Canada* Cleeve Horne!s
head of Shakespeare was a feature,
JOHN ADASKIN has returned from a visit to the Western provinces, on a talentdiscovering expedition,
CORRECTION - Rev. Francis J. Moore, D.D. writes from Cincinnati, asking us to
correct an item in the last monthly letter. Our worthy member is Editor of
the Forward Movement Publications of the Episcopal Church,
We trust the
Reverend Doctor will visit us at Christmas time, and at our Annual Meeting,
too, if possible,
"HI M0M1t! was the gay salute of four year old Walter Tedman to his mother as
she was called to the Bar recently with honours, in the stately halls of
Osgoode. Our Associate-Secretary, Harry Tedman was also present in the capacity
of father and husband.
HAMILTON JONES PASSES
Word has recently been received of the death in
Los Angeles, California of Hamilton H, Jones of
Buffalo, a non-resident member of the Arts & Letters
Club, ,
Since he first started showing his coloured motion
pictures at the Club twelve or fifteen years ago,
he has made special trips from Buffalo on five or
six: occasions and always been greeted by capacity
audiences.
fr
Hammyn Jones traveled extensively in Canada and
the United States in the pursuit of his hobby and
was rated as one of the foremost cinemetographers
in America, and on several occastions his pictures
won top awards for amateur films. It is doubtful
if our members have ever seen anything finer than
his pictures of the Canadian Rockies, and especially
the sequence showing sunrise on the glaciers.
It is with sincere regret that we record his passing.
ANNUAL MEETING — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14th.
We are expecting you. Elections —- the singing of the Clubfs
Constitution under the direction of Fred Silvester — Food -Wassail -- good fellowship —
6:30 for 7-00 p.m.
Oct. 10, 1950.