http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/maga ... ?magid=906
It's that time again, to take a look at what was happening in Enid Blyton's Magazine for this coming fortnight sixty years ago - March 13 - 26 1957.
As always, follow the link to read the two uncollected short stories, and also Enid's Editorial, which Tony has kindly loaded into place in The Cave.
The cover illustration this issue comes from the first uncollected short story,
Mr Twiddle's Ladder. Whenever I read a Mr Twiddle story, I realise how good they are. I'm not sure if I've ever read them all, despite having all the Dean editions, as well as a couple of original editions and some other stories in the Enid Blyton's Magazine annuals. They're always amusing, though often predictable, a bit like The Three Golliwogs stories. I do enjoy the feel of these stories though, giving us a glimpse into a world that was simpler and very homely - how things were in the past - which always shines through in these tales. As a character, I find Mr Twiddle a bit aggravating - how does his wife put up with him?! You can read this uncollected short story, with lovely illustrations by Hilda McGavin, by following the link.
In her
Editorial this issue, Enid tells us about penpals and I had to smile a bit because she comes across as very indignant and school-teacherly - telling her readers
I have been overwhelmed with letters from magazine readers who want American pen-friends, or pen friends from countries such as Germany or France. Well, unless you can understand foreign languages it is no use trying to get foreign pen-friends for you! It made me smile because it almost seems that Enid is becoming a victim of her own success! She suggested people write asking to be paired with pen-friends, and one gets the impression she's now regretting it because of all the requests she's received! I guess it also shows us just how busy Enid was kept with jobs like this - no wonder, really, that she finally gave up the Magazine altogether in 1959.
The other half of teh Editorial offers us an interesting story about some children in New Zealand who stumbled upon a real-life adventure involving thieves - although sadly there isn't any outcome to tie it all up. You can read it for yourself by following the link.
Following on from
Mr Twiddle's Ladder we have this fortnight's
Puzzle Page - entertaining as always. here's a good one for the Sunbeam club -
There were four donkeys in a race. Neddy finished in front of laddy; Laddy finished behind Roddy; Roddy finished behind Neddy; Biddy finished in front of Neddy.
In which order did they finish?
The Famous Five Puzzle -
There is something green hidden in each of the sentences below. Can you find them all?
1. There is somebody in the street.
2. "Can you stop easily?"
3. "Make me a down payment please"
The next short story is
Mr Stamp-About Goes Shopping my favourite story in this issue. If you don't have this particular EB Magazine, you might find the story in
The Three Strange Travellers and Other Stories (Award, 2000) It's a really entertaining and amusing story. In fact, I love all the stories about Mr Stamp-About and its a shame they weren't ever collected into one volume. I think there are quite a few. Its a good comeuppance story - Mr Stamp-About certainly gets what he deserves by the end! Great illustrations too - pity they are uncredited.
Following on from this, we have an advert for some children's books not written by Enid Blyton, which Enid actually plugs in her 'News sheet' at the end of the magazine. Interesting to see she is keen for readers to try other books! These are
The Golden Shore - by Elinor Lyon, The Nameless Boat - by M Pardoe, The Golden Stallion's Victory - by Rutherford G Montgomery and Ballet For Drina by Jean Estoril I've never read any of them, I must admit!
In
Noddy Went Too Fast! this time around, Noddy is very apologetic to Mr Tinny, who he now realises wasn't trying to steal his house or business, but was actually helping him. Noddy invites Mr Tinny to stay the night at his house - something I'm sure would be frowned upon in this day and age!!
The story concludes in the next issue - which I'm sure Anita will be pleased about! Its replaced by a strip story about Rumble and Chuff the issue after - so no more Noddy for a while at least!!
Our Letters Page is next - with three entertaining letters from children all around the world. One is from a little girl called Senta Mary Stevens - what an unusual name - who is eight years old and tells us of the birds that visit her garden -
a magpie and jay, a rook and green finch and a tree sparrow and house sparrow. There are chaffinches, starlings, who come down in a flash, pied wagtail and grey wagtail, tree creeper and nuthatch, great-tit, coal-tit, blue-tit and thrush. Blackbird, hedge sparrow, wren and robin' I didn't even know there was a tree sparrow and hedge sparrow - I thought they were all hedge sparrows!
Another letter describes how Helen Janovsky's dog is a member of The Enid Blyton Magazine - with his own badge, fixed to his basket, and the third letter suggests making a plant pot out of what Margaret Martin calls
a really useless gramophone record' which you heat in the oven until its soft, then pull up the sides to make a bowl! I wonder how well this would work? I have a few old 78's but would these really melt in the oven enough to be pliable? Or maybe it was a long player or 45rpm which were quite new in 1957...
Following on from the letters, we have the third story - again, available to read in The Cave -
The Little Highwayman. It's an entertaining enough story, but it got me a bit annoyed in a way, as its a perfect example of typical EB at her worst - when she blames a child for being bullied or robbed rather than placing the blame on the bully or thief! Also, Tim's family must be exceptionally lazy and have plenty of money to spare. Even his mother would rather her son be 'mugged' for the things she asks him to get from the shops than send someone else to get them - or maybe suggest that all her children go together. She simply tells Tim to run faster, or find a way to outwit the 'little highwayman' of the title. Many items become destroyed on the journey home, and mother doesn't seem to be very bothered. Also, Tim's brother and sister are so lazy that they wouldn't dream of running errands in Tim's place! An interesting story - with hints at the snake idea used in The River of Adventure at the end.
In
Club News Enid tells us of the winner of the EB Magazine Birthday Cake this month, who is Rachael Groves of Malvern. Always interesting to hear of a winner who is fairly near to where I live. How thrilling to win such a prize!
Secret Seven Mystery continues with Chapter 12 'How Very Annoying!'. I must say the Magazine feels different with only this serial running and no Famous Five or other well-known series. Its nice to have an extra short story, but children must have missed not having an on-going plot to savour - except for The Secret Seven of course. Enid tells us that so far more children have written requesting another Famous Five than any other series.
Once again, I find the illustration accompanying the Secret Seven story quite interesting and refreshing. It's not a particularly great illustration, but again is one that doesn't feature in the book version, showing the children looking at the suitcase, which has been left as a trick by Susie. I found it interesting because Enid describes this staircase as being 'a broken stone stairway' that 'went up from one corner of the room above it' whilst the illustrations clearly shows a stone set of steps going up the outside of the building to a door set in the wall of the first floor, more like what might be found on the outside of a barn or outhouse than a cottage.
lastly, in the
News sheet section, Enid tells us of a boy who belongs to The Sunbeams, named Neville Edmondson who is a top money-raiser. It made me wonder how he's earning such vast amounts, as Enid doesn't tell us...maybe he was robbing old ladies.
Enid writes -
He joined in 1954, worked hard and raised £1 5s. 6d. his first year. He worked harder still the next year and sent me £6 3s. 6d. He did even better the third time and has sent me £8 6s. 0d.! And will you believe it, he says that for 1957 he and his friends mean to send us £10 ! Well done indeed, Neville!
Another great issue. Always good to open a magazine each fortnight and sample its delights! Happy reading!