DIARISTS THROUGH THE CENTURIES

Southland Times, Issue 24838, 2 September 1942, Page 4

DIARISTS THROUGH THE CENTURIES

Varied Styles Of Writers The wide field covered by diaries which had been published was emphasized by the Rev. Hugh Graham in a talk to the Invercargill Rotary Club yesterday on “Keeping a Diary. He urged that members would derive much benefit-to themselves and pleasure from keeping diaries, and said the study of published diaries would afford much absorbing reading. “A diary is defined as a book in which are presented the daily memoranda about events and actions which come under the writer’s personal observation, or are related to him by others," Mr Graham said. "It is not until the close of the renaissance period that we find diaries beginning to have literary value. Diaries have now become very plentiful and published diaries are of various kinds. Some are very scandalous and spiteful: others dull and insipid. Some are humorous and delightful, others tragic and gripping.- Many are very accurate and an inexhaustible store house of facts, but dreary reading.” Of recent diaries none had possessed more literary grace than "The Journal of Katherine Mansfield," who had such a love for her own country, New Zealand. The most illustrious of the diaries of the world was that of Samuel Pepys—a typical P a gan. There was also the famous diary of John Evelyn, a record of 70 years. It was a very interesting and amusing work. There were many diaries of the last world war, and also of the present struggle. Reference was made by Mr Graham to "The Diary of a Nobody.” which originally appeared in Punch. This was kept by Charles Footer, who might be ranked m literature with Don Quixote. "The indiscretions of diarists, said Mr Graham, "have added much to the gaiety of nations.”