Chapter 17

Grace

DUBLIN SEEMED DESPERATELY drab and dreary to Grace when she returned to the almost claustrophobic world of Temple Villas, living under Mother’s watchful eyes. It was such a contrast to the freedom she’d enjoyed in Gower Street.

Mother and Father constantly enquired about her situation.

‘Why can’t they leave me alone?’ she complained to her twin brother Cecil, who had also recently returned to Dublin following travels in Canada. ‘They know I am trying my best to find work.’

‘At least you don’t have to go and work in Father’s law firm like I have to,’ he consoled her.

Poor Cecil! Despite his protestations that he did not have any intention of doing law, he was working as an apprentice in Father’s office in Dawson Street, a job he certainly did not enjoy.

‘You are silly, Grace – you should have stayed in London!’ pronounced Ada, forthright as ever. ‘Believe me, there is scarcely any commissioned work here if you are a woman.’ She confided to Grace that she was getting desperate and was considering making her career elsewhere, perhaps in America.

Grace, however, was determined to prove herself.

So, armed with a sample portfolio of her work, she set off to visit every theatre, magazine and newspaper office in the city to try to persuade them about her artistic ability and availability. Her younger sister, Sidney, who was making quite a name for herself as a journalist, had given her introductions to some of her editors, including Sinn Fein’s Arthur Griffith.

Grace got used to sitting across cluttered desks in cramped, decrepit offices trying to appear professional and businesslike as managers or editors studied and scrutinized her work. She only needed one or two to commission her and it would be the stepping stone to being considered a proper artist for print, which is what she wanted.

A few considered her work very suited to their requirements, which was pleasing, but they made it clear that unfortunately there would be no possibility of paying a fee if they used it.

‘Am I supposed to starve and be grateful?’ she complained to Sidney as she tried not to give in to a growing sense of despair.

‘I often don’t get paid for my writing either,’ her sister admitted, ‘but it all helps to build my name and reputation. That is part of the reason why I chose to use “John Brennan” as my pen-name. It’s strange, but people find it easier to accept a man writing articles for the newspapers and magazines than a young woman, and they believe a young man deserves to be paid. Besides, I far prefer the name to my own,’ she added with a grin.

Grace found it strange that even at home her sister now preferred them all to call her John instead of Sidney.

Her youngest sister had changed and grown up so much while Grace had been away in London. She was only eighteen, but she had a mind of her own, together with an unusual confidence and sense of importance about her work. She had joined a group set up by Maud Gonne and Helena Malony, which pledged to fight against English influence in Ireland and to champion the cause of Irish independence and the revival of the Irish language and customs.

‘It’s called Inghinidhe na hEireann,’ John explained.

‘You are talking in Irish!’ Grace laughed.

‘I’m taking classes in the language.’

‘Inghi …’ Grace had no idea how even to attempt to say it.

‘It means “Daughters of Ireland”, but some people call us “the Ninnies”,’ John revealed. ‘Grace, you should come to some of the meetings. They hold lectures and ceilis and debates.’

John was deeply involved with this organization, but for the moment Grace felt she needed to concentrate her efforts on finding work.

Father quietly suggested she set up a meeting with his old friend John Butler Yeats’s son, Willie. John Yeats had moved to live in America and Father still missed his old friend and their discussions.

‘The Abbey Theatre is popular and they seem always to be putting on new Irish plays. Most are not really to our taste, but I hear they do well.’

From her visits to the Abbey, Grace knew that they prided themselves on reflecting Irish culture and tradition on the stage. William Butler Yeats had said nothing when she first met him in the theatre. He had always seemed rather lofty and distant, but now she went to see him and he enquired politely about her parents’ wellbeing as she handed him her portfolio. She knew he had a very keen, critical eye and her spirits sank as he sat across from her in his office, silently studying her work. She was relieved when, looking at her over his dark-rimmed glasses, he told her he considered her design and artwork striking and that it suited the demands of the theatre.

The Abbey already had a few artists they used, he explained, but he promised to send her the script of a play they planned to stage next year and asked her to submit a sample of her design ideas to them for consideration.

‘Thank you,’ she smiled, gathering up her portfolio. He had made no commitment to using her work, but Grace felt at least he was giving her the opportunity to demonstrate her ideas. The Abbey Theatre, with its strong nationalist focus, was staging work that differed very much from Dublin’s other theatres with their popular London-type productions. She would relish the challenge of working for it.

Two small newspapers also gave her work, asking her to do some caricature sketches for them, which they used. Mother proudly showed her drawings to everyone.

‘The Daughters of Ireland’ have invited me to attend a committee meeting about the new women’s journal we hope to publish,’ John told her one day. ‘Perhaps they will need some artists and illustrators!’

Grace did not want to get her hopes up, but she waited anxiously for her sister to return home. She was delighted when John told her that their new journal, Bean na hEireann, would be published monthly and would reflect both nationalist and feminist sentiment with a broad appeal and a range of articles from various contributors – and it would most definitely need some illustrative artwork.

‘Countess Constance Markievicz turned up to the meeting in a ball gown and a tiara, straight from an event in Dublin Castle, to offer her services,’ John laughed. ‘Can you imagine her with all the committee ladies in their brown and grey tweeds and woollens? She certainly caused a bit of a stir. She offered not only to write or provide some artwork, but also to sell her diamond brooch to raise funds for the journal. Honestly, she is an extraordinary woman, unconventional to say the least. We took the tram home together and I have to say I do like her.’

John encouraged Grace to send samples of her work to the new journal’s editor, Nora Dryhurst, a well-respected Irish journalist and suffragette who lived in London but had offered at the meeting to help with editing and setting up Bean na hEireann while she was in Dublin. John had become friendly with the older journalist, who was very encouraging about her writing career.

‘I met her daughter Sylvia in London,’ said Grace. ‘She is a friend of Ernest’s.’

‘Nora Dryhurst is a fine journalist,’ enthused John. ‘When I told her that Ernest is coming home on holidays she said we must have afternoon tea together. So I have invited her to come here for tea next week.’

Mother was barely able to disguise her surprise at the petite, intelligent, pretty, middle-aged suffragette sitting in their drawing room and telling tales of political intrigue and scandals in London.

‘Working as a journalist, one has to always be curious,’ Nora Dryhurst declared.

‘And what do you do with such knowledge?’ Mother asked.

‘Why, Isabella, I edit it and then write it in my column. That is what I am paid to do.’

‘I wish that I could find such stories, but Dublin is a bit of a backwater,’ admitted John enviously.

Grace could not help but smile to see how Mrs Dryhurst was well able to charm and get her way around Mother.

‘I’m afraid I have to leave you, Nora,’ Mother apologized after a while. ‘Sidney should have given me better notice of your visit, but I had already made other arrangements with one of my neighbours and cannot let her down. Perhaps we will meet again.’

‘I’m sure that we will, Isabella dear,’ replied Nora, smiling as she stood up to say goodbye to her.

‘Your mother is nothing like what you told me!’ she teased John and Ernest.

She enquired about Muriel’s work as a nurse. ‘It is such a wonderful vocation, my dear, but the work is so demanding. I have no doubt that you give great care and comfort to all your patients.’

‘The wards are always so busy,’ Muriel agreed, ‘but it is rewarding.’

‘Now, Grace dear, tell me about your artistic endeavours.’

‘I have had a few caricature sketches published in two newspapers,’ Grace replied ruefully, ‘but little else for the past few weeks.’

‘Talent often takes time to be discovered,’ said Mrs Dryhurst gently. ‘But often giving a push in the right direction can prove very helpful. I’m invited to George Russell’s home on Sunday. I never miss his salons when I am in Dublin, as he is what I would call a renaissance man, blessed with the type of intellect that is open and interested in everything and everyone. Why don’t you all come along with me? It’s a wonderful place to meet people – contacts that might prove useful.’

‘George Russell knows everyone!’ John laughed, delighted at the invitation. ‘His salons are famous.’

‘Then it is agreed that we will all go.’ The older woman clapped her hands in delight. ‘And Ernest, will you escort the ladies on Sunday?’

Embarrassed, Ernest flushed slightly, but with a little persuasion agreed that he too would attend.

‘But as I said, George’s is always rather different, so we must dress up and find the right costumes for such an evening. What do you say?’

‘Yes,’ agreed Grace excitedly, knowing that an invitation to George Russell’s At Home was considered a great entrée to Dublin’s literary and arts world.

‘Then we will find the costumes we need and ready ourselves for Sunday,’ smiled Nora Dryhurst as she sipped a second cup of tea.