A GREAT AUTHOR

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1930, Page 6

A GREAT AUTHOR

BARRIE’S 70th BIRTHDAY-,

LONDON, May 29

Sir James Barrie a few days ago celebrated his seventieth birthday. He was born in a four-roomed :l cbt-" tage at Kirriemuir, a small "tdwn which he lias immprtalised as Thftiltas.--To-day he is among the most if a hi-' ous and is the wealthiets literary 1 ' man of his time. ' 1

Few writers are more self-revelat-ory. The story of his boyhood, youth; and early manhood are told iii ‘ His books, “Aul Li clip Idylls,” “When a Sian’s Single,” “Sentimental' '•Tommy,’’ “Tommy and' Grizel,” " and/ above all, in the remarkably beautiful study of his mother, “Margaret Ogilvy.”

Barrie graduated at Edinburgh, but the academic life was ribt/”for him. “Literature was my game;” he said. “It was not highly thought of by those who -.wished me well. I remember being asked by twcf~ maiden ladies about the time 1 left the uni-' verity what I was going to be, and' when I replied brazenly, ‘An atttliolf,’ they flung up their hands, and one exclaimed reproachfully/ ‘And' you ah M . A.”’ • ’ ■ "• '

Sir James entered literature”"by way of a leader-mitersliip' 'on the “Nottirighaih ' ! ' journal.” TlieiF lie went to London, and soon blazed into fame, his plays, “Walker, London”’' .and' “The : Pfofe'ssor’s Love Story,” putting him on a plane witlr the' foremost writers of- that day. - ' lii' 1904: dame his greatest success, ' “Peter Paii.; or the Boy ' Who Would 'Not* Grow up.” \Vlierr the, •copy of the play was published, '-"Str 'James made things clear in a beautir ful dedication to “The Five.” These were the five boys of Sylvia and Arthur Llewellyn Davies, daughter .ahd son-in-law of George du Maurier,' the author of “Trilby,” and a famous “Punch” artist. 1

Sir James played at pirates with the boys at his country home hear IFarnham, and it was from this . aelightful association that the delicious make-believe of “Peter Pan*’ '/wa,s slowly evolved. Of “the five/\mree rare still living, but Gjeorge, the eldest was,killed in the war, ahd'. 'Michael was drowned/ while‘ bathing at Oxford.'

For years Sir James Barrie lias lived in the Adelphi, London, 1 his self-, effacemeht gaining for him tlie title, of “the hermit,”, but lie spoke at'the uifiner • of. .the 'Royal Literary , Fund ;m his birthday night./ / "" 4 '