Welcome! To
the fourth news-sheet in honor of American author Kate Douglas Wiggin
in this her 150th Anniversary year. Whether you are an academic,
a collector or ‘just’ a fan of Kate’s many books,
we aim to bring you items of interest from both sides of the Atlantic,
as well as news from ‘Quillcote’, her home in Hollis,
Maine. This is a free news-sheet available for the price of a mere
sae but we intend founding an official Kate Douglas Wiggin society
to coincide with her birthday in September this year and expand into
a proper subscription journal.
A number of special events in Britain, and America are being planned to celebrate Kate’s birthday and details of these will be available in a later issue. May we encourage her fans to put on some event of their own? You might alert your local library and ask them to do something or you could just organize a little local gathering and raise a glass to our Kate on 28th Sept. Do let us know what you are planning and if you’re stuck, contact Rowena (UK) or Carla (US) because we may be able to provide ideas and a speaker.
—Rowena Edlin-White & Carla Baade Turner
Timothy’s Quest
Santa brought me something special this year: an original poster for the silent
movie of Timothy’s Quest, released in Sept. 1922 by Dirigio Films, Inc.
Timothy’s Quest sub-titled “A Story for Anybody, Young or Old Who
cares to Read It”, was the work in progress Kate brought with her on her
first visit to Britain in 1890; she finished it at the Flacon Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon
and it was published the same year. It’s a heart-warming tale of two orphans,
ten year-old Timothy and toddler Gabrielle (Lady Gay) who escape with their dog
Rags from the slums of Minerva Court and go on a “quest” to find
a new home and a real mother of their own.
At Pleasant River, Timothy sets his sights on the home of Miss Avilda Cummins
and Samantha Ann Ripley, two middle-aged spinsters. He knocks on the door and
asks, “Do you need any babies here, if you please?” Both ladies are
perfectly content with life without the encumbrances of children, but gradually
the two waifs work their way into their hearts. Wiggin’s portrayal of single
women is always brilliant and insightful and Avilda and Samanthy are classics
of the type.
...
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If you would like to receive the next free newsletter(s), please send up to 3
stamped addressed envelopes to:
In USA: c/o Carla Turner, Quillcote, 20 Salmon Falls Rd, Hollis Center, Maine 04042.
In UK: c/o Rowena Edlin-White, Willow House, 11 Frederick Ave, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 1HP.
(Do send your comments, letters, anecdotes and requests to either of the above!)
The Quill is distributed both in UK & USA.
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