Elizabeth Colville (nee Dunlop) had all the characteristics of a great poet. Her subject matter combined the dramatic and the tender - it dealt with the great events and people of the day but also had words for the people of humble station. It rhymed, it scanned, it was published in a book.
It had all the qualities of great poetry - except greatness.
THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE'S GRAND PARADE MARCH.
Ye sons of the mountains! sons of the brave! Up, up with thy flag, from the heights let it wave;
Long may it float over mountain and sea, 'Tis a glorious flag the flag of the free.
Think of thy clansmen with many a scar, How fearless they fought 'midst the dangers of war;
Though wounded and bleeding still onward they pressed, Till over their foes waved bonnet and crest
Chorus — March, ye brave kiltie lads, faithful and true, March with thy plaidies and bonnets sae blue; While the pibroch is sounding by mountain and glade, March to the march of the Highland Brigade.
Ye sons of the mountain! sons of the brave! Up, up with thy flag, from the heights let it wave;
How proudly it floats all over the world, Tis freedom or death where that flag is uufurled.
Hark! 'tis the sound of the bugle you hear, The signal is given, the invaders are near,
Haste to the battle-field, make them roll under, No foeman thy land of adoption shall plunder.
Chorus— March, ye brave, &c.
Ye sons of the mountains! sons of the brave! Up, up with thy flag, from the heights let it wave;
Long may it float over mountain and sea, 'Tis a glorious flag the flag of the free.
Hark to the cannons, lads; hear how they rattle; Up with thy colors, be foremost in battle —
Foremost in battle, shout the war cry, To the field brave Highlanders, conquer or die.
Chorus — March, ye brave, &c.
E. Colville ("D. D.") Lawrence, 26th September, 1885. -Tuapeka Times, 30/9/1885.
Your humble researcher and editor, while doing his best to understand the political and historic context in which the above was composed, makes bold to note that when the "flag of the free" is unfurled as described above, "freedom or death" might well be the conclusion of the people watching it wave from the heights of the land where they were born, and which the "brave kiltie lads" have decided to make their "land of adoption."
AN OFFENDED POETESS.
A fortnight ago we received some verses from "Elizabeth Colville," who hails from Glenmore, near Tuapeka. They scarcely came up to our standard, and in returning them to the authoress we counselled her to apply elsewhere, if she was exceedingly anxious to see her lines in print. An early mail brought us an indignant reply from her. As it would be a pity that our readers should be denied the opportunity of gauging the calibre of the laureate of Glenmore, we append her "remonstrance," which, were there a competition for prizes, would entitle her, if she had been a man, to one — for impudence.
I thank you for your kind advice; Methinks you penned it very nice;
But already my songs are o'er the world, Both through the 'Witness' and the 'Herald';
And more than them, and that, you'll find, Has printed songs that I have rhymed.
And they'll be sang both, near and far, Without the assistance of your STAR,
You are wrong for once. I must confess, I'm not a poet, but a poetess;
And in my book you'll get a corner, Like what Burns gave to Andrew Horner. -Evening Star, 3/4/1886.
The Burns reference is an obscure one, indeed, and comes from a 1739 contest between Burns and Horner at a club dinner, when both men were given pencil, paper and five minutes. Horner, who fancied himself as a poet, wrote nothing. Burns produced a piece which is not his finest work:
“In seventeen hundred and thretty-nine |
CANTERBURY SCOTCHMEN should read Poems and Songs on “Home and Abroad," by Mrs E. Colville. Caledonian, Gaelic and Scottish Societies receive due tribute. Price 3s 6d, all Booksellers. Beautifully illustrated.
HOW TO BE PRETTY, THOUGH PLAIN. THE glow of a pure, wholesome Complexion counts for more than mere beauty of feature. If ROSOTTO COMPLEXION CREAM is massaged into the skin every night a good wholesome complexion will result. For all roughness, soreness and irritation of the skin, ROSOTTO is the Cure. Sold by Chemists and Grocers in jars, 1s and 2s each. Also post free from Sole Manufacturer, PRICE, Chemist, Lower High Street. -Lyttelton Times, 7/5/1906.
MRS. COLVILLE'S POEMS.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir, — In your issue of June 23rd I read your very able criticism on Mrs Colville's book of poems and songs on home and abroad. I got a copy of the book, and the more I read it the better I like it. As "Truth" justly remarked, "it is a wonderful book." There is something so truthful, natural, and humane running through Mrs Colville's poems, that cannot fail to touch the sympathies of the reader. How like the plough-boy bard she writes. I have never read a book that comes so near to Burns's works. She has the same ardent love of liberty justice and humanity; the same love of truth, patriotism and honest independence; the same hatred to hypocrisy, tyranny, slavery and oppression in every form. And how like him she battles for the down-trodden poor. There is no doubt but that Mrs Colville has picked up the pen that Burns laid down. And she well deserves the name of New Zealand's sweet and sane singer.— Yours, etc., A LOVER OF POETRY. Dunedin, August, 1906. -NZ Truth, 18/8/1906.
A REVIEW.
"POEMS AND SONGS AT HOME AND ABROAD."
[By Mrs E. Colville, Lawrence.] It gives us great pleasure to call the attention of our readers to a volume of "Poems and Songs at Home and Abroad" by Mrs E. Colville, who has been a resident of Lawrence for the past 25 years. The publishers are Dunlop and Drennan, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. The price is 3s 6d, and the work, which is well illustrated, is on sale at all principal booksellers throughout New Zealand. The book is divided into three parts — poems, songs, and epitaphs — and has a range of subjects that causes the reader to be amazed at the wonderful fertility of the mind that conceived them. The work appeals strongly to the exile from the Homeland, and should his good fortune be that he was born and bred in the "land of cakes" he will find here much that will recall memories gay and sad, and as the oft familiar names that are associated with many of these poems are read, the smouldering fires of love and patriotism will burst into flame and constrain the heart to lay its tribute of thanks at the feet of her who has stirred the chords that under other and different circumstances would tend to grow mute. The subjects are very general, and from many of the pages of history and Nature suggestions have arisen that have found their expression in song. We have not the space at command to quote from these links with the Old Land, but the very mention of such topics as the following will create a hunger in the heart to become the possessor of this splendid volume: "An auld Scotchman's dream," "Auld toon of Ayr," "The auld Scotch farmer and his wife," "The old Highland crofter's parting with his only son." The stories of this book are many and varied and deal with a multitude of subjects, but whether the story be literature or life, or the vein light or solemn, the authoress writes with a sincerity of purpose that attracts, and the reader finds himself turning page after page, smitten with the fervor of the writer and willing to be led through the changing scenes and experiences at her will. Not only does the book claim the love of the wanderer from his native land but compels the devotion of the inhabitants of our New Zealand. It sings long and sings well of the beauties of "God's own country," and here again the strains are sometimes merry and sometimes sad. Mrs Colville is a distinct credit to the land of her adoption. Her love for New Zealand is as strong as her attachment to the land of her birth. New Zealand history has produced many themes, and events of national and local interest have been immortalised in appropriate verse. We are attracted by odes such as the following: — "March of the Tuapeka Volunteers," "The bonnie flower of Lawrence," "The Caledonian gathering at Tuapeka" and the following epitaphs will be read with interest: — Lines dedicated to the memory of Mrs Malcolm McLean, lines on Mrs Roscow, sen., and lines on the Rev. J. A. Will. There are a score or two of historic happenings in New Zealand to which the genius of the authoress has done ample justice. Mrs Colville would be the last to assert that her book is faultless in its style and perfect in its loyalty to the canons of poetry. But whatever faults are apparent to the critical eye and ear, they are soon forgotten in the praise that is accorded to the simplicity and lucidity of the poems from the first page to the last. The whole book must be judged from the note that prefaces the book, in which the authoress declares her intention. She sings to "the struggling poor" and finds her reward in the "kindly thought" that her earnest and stirring words call forth in the minds of those whose hearts are lightened by her sweet song. She succeeds in making herself perfectly understood to her readers, and the words and phrases in common currency produce good effects — remarkably good effects at times. We confess to a liking for the plain, simple and unrestrained music of Mrs Colville's songs. It were almost superfluous to remark of one who hails from the country of Scotland which is saturated with the Burns lore that though her genius is on a much lower level she has in a measure reproduced much of the force and spirit that live as influences among Scotchmen everywhere to this day. There are many things in this remarkable book of nearly 300 pages that-constrain attention, and to which we would like to refer at length, but the limits of space forbid. We would advise our readers to get this book for themselves, and promise them that, as they sit by ingleneuk after the work of the day is over and listen to the songs of this sweet singer, the memories of days long since gone will once again gladden the heart; and when the events of the days that lie in the near past are recited their hearts will throb with a deeper love for the land of their birth and a stronger affection shall bind them to the land of their adoption, and the authoress shall reap the humble reward she seeks — "the kindly thought." -Tuapeka Times, 22/8/1906.
Whether Elizabeth Colville was writing with the figurative pen of Robert Burns, or whether her genius was "on a much lower level," I will allow the reader to judge. Perhaps the following example of her work can aid a decision.
IN LIBERTY'S CAUSE.
(For "Truth.")
(By Mrs E. Colville.)
Lines on the sufferings of Maria Spiridonova, a young Russian girl, for ridding the poor, starving peasants of a cold-blooded tyrant by shooting him on his return from Tamboy, after forty days' shooting and flogging the peasants in a most atrocious manner. Hence the following verses.
Long with their rifle butts, oh, how they smashed her!
Long with their cruel whips, oh! how they lashed her!
Long with the heavy boots trampled and crushed her;
And oft to the Cossacks her body they threw.
Quite naked they strip'd her, kicked her, and bruised her,
Like fiends of perdition they tore and abused her;
Blind, wounded and senseless, oh! how they used her!
And aye the red blood came oozing anew.
They danced on her bosom, they tramped on heir face;
Till even her mother no feature could trace.
What a horrible sight when the soldiers of Mars
Were burning her body with lighted cigars!
What anguish and torture she patiently bore,
While the half burned skin from her body they tore.
Cold, naked and bleeding, she lay as if dead;
With the beautiful hair torn out of her head.
The more they would beat the more she would sigh:
"Oh, liberty, for thee I glory to die,"
O cursed be the monsters who ruthless did hurl
The tortures of hell on that poor little girl!
In the dungeon of horrors disfigured she lies,
Till death sets her free from the kingdom of sighs;
For liberty's cause what a price she has given,
Ah, surely she'll shine with the brightest in heaven.
Lawrence, Oct., 1906. -NZ Truth, 27/10/1906.
Included in her "Poems and Songs" is a snappy little verse titled "The Chinese Are Coming," which included such rhythmic gems as "The Chinese are coming, like rats from a hole," and "Right under our noses bold Chinky he pops." The best that can be said about this aspect of her work is that it is a rare piece of racism in her volume and many people agreed with her.
Mrs A. Colville, the author of "Poems and Songs on Home and Abroad." forwarded a copy of the work to Queen Alexandra, and has received the following communication, dated from aboard the yacht Victoria and Albert, Cowes, Isle of Wight: — "Miss Knollys has received the Queen's command to thank Mrs Colville most sincerely for the book of poems she has been so kind as to send for her Majesty's acceptance." This is the third letter from royalty received by Mrs Colville, one of the three being from the King. -Otago Witness, 13/11/1907.
Personal
Mrs E. Colville, of Lawrence, author of 'Poems and Songs on Home and Abroad,' a copy of which she sent to the Emperor of Japan, through the Japanese Consulate at Sydney, has received a letter from the Consul-General, Sydney, in which he says: “I have the honor to inform you that I sent the book to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who presented it, through the Minister of the Imperial Household, to His Majesty. I have the honor to inform you, further, that His Majesty was pleased to accept the book, and directed that its receipt be acknowledged with thanks.” This is the fourth Royal letter Mrs Colville has received in acknowledgment of copies of her books. Two were from Queen Alexandra and one from King Edward. -Evening Star, 11/9/1908.
Local and General
We have been handed a number of copies of Mrs Colville's poems, which were published in book form some time ago, which we will be pleased to dispose of on her behalf. At the time of publication the little volume was very favourably commented upon and we feel sure many of our readers will be glad to avail themselves of this opportunity of procuring a copy of her poetical labours in this permanent form. Mrs Colville, we regret to say, is at present in a very critical state of health. -Tuapeka Times, 14/9/1912.
Excerpt from a letter to "Dot" from one of "Dot's little friends:"
I have lately been reading a book of poems by Mrs Colville. They are of particular interest, being written by a lady at present residing in Lawrence. Many of the poems are about things of Lawrence and Dunedin, such as the Dunedin Burns Club, the Tuapeka Volunteers, and the Dunedin Highland Brigade. Epitaphs on the deaths of Otago people are plentiful, and there are numerous poems about the politics of New Zealand, such as the Stout-Vogel Ministry. One poem tells about four Otago men who voted against a certain Ministry in 1865. They made effigies of the four men, and burnt them (the effigies) in derision. A good number of the poems, again, are about Scotland. There are several poems about Robert Burns, Wallace, and Queen Victoria, and there are some fictitious ones of some length, such as “The Exploits of the Ancient McGregors.” The poems are fairly good, and it is curious that one does not hear more of this lady. I have seen some of her poetry in a local newspaper; but I did not think that she had written a bookful. With kindest regards to all D.L.F. and yourself, — Yours truly, PETERKIN GAY. -Otago Witness, 23/10/1912.
Died recently, in Lawrence, Elizabeth Colville, poetess, who by many will be remembered as a contributor to New Zealand "Truth" in its early days. Deceased was 76 years of age. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Dunlop, a native of Ayrshire, Scotland. For upwards of half a century, the old lady had resided in the Dominion. Deceased was twice married. She married at Kilmarnock (Scotland) and took the name of Hannah, her husband dying a few years after their arrival in this country. Subsequently she became Mrs Colville, her second husband predeceasing her by many years. Mrs Colville was a very talented woman. Her poetic efforts were many, but in all she showed true democratic and humanitarian instincts. She published a collection of her poems some years ago, and "Truth" at the time very favorably noticed them. Perhaps, in a spirit of gratitude, the poetess remembered "Truth's" kind criticism, as for some time after that "Truth" was not "Truth" without a contribution from Mrs Colville. A Tuapeka paper says of deceased: "She was a woman of cheerful and kindly disposition and her death will be regretted by a wide circle of friends throughout this district." Deceased is survived by a daughter, who resides in London. -NZ Truth, 26/10/1912.
No comments:
Post a Comment