Evening star., 1928-08-04
THE LIBRARY TABLE
BY the Booklouer

Katherine Mansfield, whose reputa-
ton as short story writer had just
been achieved at the time of her death
in 1923, was born in Wellington, New
Zealand. october Ia, 1888, the third
daughter of family which had lived in
either Australia or New Zealand for
three generations. She was married In
1918 to John Middleton Murry, formerly
editor of the Athenaeum, now editor
of the Adelphi Mr., Murry has re-
Gently edited and had published the
journal of Katherine Mansfield"
which extends from February, 1914,
with frequent long breaks, until within
short time OF her death. Mr.. Murry's
introduction tells many interesting facts
about the life of one who was always
something OF sensitive recluse. Most
of her childhood was spent in the small
town of karori, near Wellington, where
she went to the village school and
shared what education there was with
the milk boy and the WasherWoman's
daughters" At the age of 9 she
won the first prize for English COM
position at the village school. with an
essay on "A Sea Voyage" and at about
the same time had her first story ac-
cepted by magazine. THE Lone
Hand When she was 49, she went to
England to attend Queens College and
remained there until she was 13. Here
she was editor of the college magazine
and became very Skillful as a musician,
with the violoncello. She has grown so
tond OF London, with its opportunities
for the artistic life. that she was very
antagoniStic toward the return to New
Zealand, which was necessary. The
next two years were spent there and.
though they were not happy years be-
cause OF her dislike for what she con-
sldered the narrow, provincial life, they
were very influential in her sVeIop-
ment. Many of her best stories, such as
Inc Garden Party" and Prelude" are
based on experiences in New Zealand.
Finally she secured a small allowance
from her parents and permission to re-
turn to London. Earning money by
writing proved difficult and at mes she
was forced TO take minor parts in traV-
ellng opera companies. At last the edi-
TOR OF the New Age recognized her
ability and accepted much Of her work
during the years 1909-19lI. In 1911 She
met Mr.. Murry at the house of w. l..
George. the novelist. At that time. he
and Michael Sadleir were editing a
small magazine, Rhythm, and Kathe-
rine Mansfield became regular con-
tfibutor to it. Rhythm became the
Blue Review and then died in 1918
FOR brief period Mr. Murry, Katherine
Mansfield, now his wife. and ID RI
Lawrence edited little periodical called
tne Signature, for which they wrote
all the articles. When Mr.. Murrv be-
came editor of the Athenaeum in
1919. Katherine Mansfield had a me-
dlum for her work Before this her
Prelude" based on "reminiscences of
her own childhood, had been published
AT about the same time she had an at
tack OF pleurisy. probably the effect of
the damp London climate on one never
ROBUST. 10 recuperate, she went to
IaVorlte place in the south of France,
bandol but she found the place war
devastated and. i'll and discouraged i'm
mediately started back to England she
Teacned Paris Just at the time of the
iong-range bombardment and here be-
came seriously Ill. tuberculosis devel-
oped ana from this time her life was a
losing struggle against disease. Her
courage was unconquerable and she
continued to write, with ever-increasinr
sureness. Publishers began to collect
ner stories: iD 1920 Bliss" was publish
ed; and in 1921 The Garden Party, and
Other Stories. In October. 1922. she
abandoned writing, she had hoped for a
time only. and went to Fontainebleau
for her health. There she died Of a
sudden hemorrhage January 8, 1923.
The Journal of Katherine Mans
neld Is sad record of the thoughts
OF a sensitive mind overwhelmed by ad-
verse external circumstances, vet keep
ing It's VIII TO create When depression
was greatest her mind frequently di-
verted to scenes of her childhood in
New Zealand~-a childhood which. i'm
retrospect, seemed very happy. THE
only adorable thing / can imagine il
Tor my grandmother TO put me to bed
ana bring me bowl of hot bread and
miik. and, standing with her hands
Ioided, the left thumb over the right.
say IN her adorable voice. There, dar-
ing, isn't that nice2 Oh. what a
miracle OF happiness that would be-"
Motners birthday / wrote at 2
O'Clock and got up and sat on the box
of the window. thinking Of her 7 wonld
love 10 see her again and the little
frown between her brows and to hear
ner voice. But don't think / will.
MY memory OF her is so complete that
| don't think 1t will be disturbed" She
loved commonplace, normal life, and
olten ionged for the privilege of enjoy
ing one. Il am in the sitting room
downstairs The wind howls outside.
out here II Is SO warm and pleasant
III looks like real room where real
people live. My sewing basket is on
the table. Under the bookcase are poked
j s old house shoes The black chair
half In shadow. looks as If happy per-
son had sprawled there We had roast
mutton and onion sauce and baked rice
Tor ainner. 1t sounds right. l have
run the ribbons through my UNDER
clothes with a hatrpin in the good home
way Part of one Of the last entries
Is. want garden, small house.
grasS, animals. books, pictures. music"
Protound melancholy-~and no wonder
marks most Of the Journal Il seem
10 spend half OF my life arriving AZ
strange hotels aud asking if | may co
To bed Immediately. And would Won
mind filling my hot-water bottle?
lhank you. that is delicious No. l
shant require anything more The
strange door shuts upon the stranger
ana then / slip down in the sheets.
waiting for the shadows To come ont NJ
the corners and spin their SLOW. slow
Web over the uglieSt wallpaper of ALL"
"Tidied all my papers. Tore up and
ruth;csSly destroyed much This is al
waye a great satisfaction. Whenever
prepare for a journey prepare as
though for death Should never re-
turn. all is in order This is what life
has taught me, Tonight. when the eye-
ning star Shone through the side window
and the mountains were so lovely. / sat
there thinking Of death. OF all there
was TO do--of life, which Is So lovely
and of the fact that my body Is a
prison" But nearly always there is a
courageous note at the end. as Il do
not want to die without leaving a rec
ord OF my belief that suffering can be
overcome. One must submit,
Do not resist Take 1t. Be over
whelmed. Accept il fully Make il
part OF life" And the last entry i'm the
Journal Is the one of serene accent
ance. If not of hope we all fear
when we are In the waiting rooms vel
we nnuSf naeE hnvn0a tL.,,s n.,s ss -.