Personal Gems From The Cave Of Books

[Anita Bensoussane]

Well, I have just received a lovely surprise email which contained the poem I have been searching for.
I won't embarrass the kind gentleman who sent it, and will give him a nom de plume instead.
So many thanks indeed to you once again Mr. Bony Winterfield!

Have you read the poem that was inspired by Enid's before?
I don't think I have. See what you think...

I've read Maud Dyrenfurth's poem before and the style is a little high-blown for my taste, but Enid Blyton must have been delighted to receive a response.

The front cover of Nash's (the one with the girl and the pony) is wonderful - so evocative of the era.

[pete9012S]

Lets go back to 1955 in the cave today!

Playways
Lutterworth Periodicals Limited. January 1955.
RUN-ABOUT'S HOLIDAY

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... perid=2301

[pete9012S]

A Shilling Puzzle
Illustrations: Caroline Hall
Poem: Blackie's Little Ones' Annual [1926]

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/boo ... +Easy+Book

Been trying to track this poem down - has anyone read it?
(The illustration reminded me of a young Enid.)

[Katharine]

I haven't heard of that poem, but the title sounds intriguing.

Good point about the illustration looking like a young Enid, although I guess that was a fairly standard look at that time.

I'm always amazed by stories from that era that show teenage girls wearing their school tunics (or their Guide uniforms) whenever out and about. I don't know if it was a true reflection of the time that they rarely wore anything else, other than perhaps their 'Sunday best'? I could understand it amongst the poorer classes who perhaps could only afford one set of clothes, but these are usually stories about girls living in large houses with tennis courts and servants!

Sorry, slipped off topic a bit.

[pete9012S]

The book is for sale on ebay for a modest £5

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285565279514 ... R8DfitemYw

Yes, I had noticed children wearing their school uniforms outside school and even on holiday in some older books too Katharine.
When I got home I couldn't wait to get out of my school uniform!

[Katharine]

Sounds like a reasonable price.

I'm just wondering if I have a copy of it somewhere, I know I've picked up several Blackie books of that sort. It's not in my list of 'read' books, but it might be tucked away somewhere waiting for me to look at it.

[Courtenay]

I'm always amazed by stories from that era that show teenage girls wearing their school tunics (or their Guide uniforms) whenever out and about. I don't know if it was a true reflection of the time that they rarely wore anything else, other than perhaps their 'Sunday best'? I could understand it amongst the poorer classes who perhaps could only afford one set of clothes, but these are usually stories about girls living in large houses with tennis courts and servants!

Sorry, slipped off topic a bit.

Good point — I'm always amused, in turn, to see how many of Eileen Soper's illustrations of Julian and Dick have them (especially Julian) wearing a tie and a coat or blazer, while they're supposedly in the middle of the summer holidays!

[Anita Bensoussane]

I wish I could stay looking that neat and tidy on a country walk!

I've never read the poem 'A Shilling Puzzle', Pete.

[Boodi 2]

Yes, I had noticed children wearing their school uniforms outside school and even on holiday in some older books too Katharine.
When I got home I couldn't wait to get out of my school uniform!

As far as I can remember, my mother insisted that I take off my school uniform (and hang it up neatly!) as soon as I got home in order to keep it looking spick and span and needless to say, I was more than happy to oblige

[pete9012S]

We go way, way back in the cave for todays Gems!

The Teachers World

Lost—A Robin Called Sing-a-Song (p 943) (ill Phyllis Chase) (written 30/12/25)

A PLAY FOR CHILDREN
The League of Nations (p 948-950) (written 20/1/26)

A PLAY FOR CHILDREN
The League of Nations (p 948-950) (written 20/1/26)

Continued:
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=227

[Anita Bensoussane]

Thanks very much for drawing our attention to these gems from 1925 and 1926, Pete. It's funny to think that they were written almost a century ago!

The play about the League of Nations is fascinating, showing Enid Blyton tackling a weighty topic in a way that children could understand. Many elements still hold true, e.g. Japan's statement that "The whole world has to share in the terrible results of war nowadays. We are all so linked together by trade that when even one country is ruined, all the world feels the effect." A powerful piece of writing.

'Lost - A Robin Called Sing-a-Song' is a charming story. I love Enid Blyton's names for the birds and animals - they're so apt.

[pete9012S]

Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories

No. 71
Date: May 20, 1938
Additional Illustrators:
Uncollected Poem + Odds and Ends

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/mag ... ?magid=322

Enjoyed being able to look through this magazine in the cave.
Why, there's even another Rollo in this edition!!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Enjoyable poems, and I love the delightful illustrations by Grace Lodge and E. H. Davie.

[John Pickup]

Tidy Up is a lovely poem and I agree with its sentiments. Obviously, Enid was targeting trippers.

[Moonraker]

I always felt that "trippers" was a derogatory term - unlike "tourists" which has a touch more class. Back as far as I can remember, the term "day trips" were advertised by coach and rail operators, hence the term.