Statue of James Joyce by his grave in Zurich. Photo: Robert Scarth / flickr CC.
Eye - 13 March 2015
From cafe confusion to chocolate tales
Cafe confusion
James Joyce fan Tim Jerram got in touch with Eye after reading ‘The battle for Bewley’s’ (20 February).
‘I’m delighted to see you mention this campaign and the Harry Clarke windows (which were described at the Youghal Historical Society’s conference on Quakers in Ireland last autumn). However, I have to point out that James Joyce left Ireland, never to return, in 1912 so could not have visited Ernest Bewley’s Grafton Street premises.’
Further digging proved Tim right about this departure from the Emerald Isle, making any visit to Bewley’s Oriental Cafe on Grafton Street, which opened in November 1927, impossible. However, the family had previously opened cafes in Georges Street (1894) and Westmoreland Street (1896).
Tim was able to shed light on which of these Bewley’s branches James Joyce is truly connected with: ‘We do know, however, (from Tony Farmar’s book, The Legendary Lofty Clattery Café: Bewley’s of Ireland) that in August 1904 Joyce wrote to his friend C P Curran, arranging to meet him in Bewley’s in Westmoreland Street and that he was probably a regular there.’
Many thanks to Tim for helping solve the riddle of the Bewley’s quote. In Dubliners, James Joyce wrote: ‘It was a quarter to nine. Little Chandler had come home late for tea and, moreover, he had forgotten to bring Annie home the parcel of coffee from Bewley’s. Of course, she was in a bad humour and gave him short answers.’
Making connections
Quaker threads in author Una L Silberrad’s life have been coming to light. In ‘Sampson Rideout, Quaker’ (27 February), literary historian Kate Macdonald wrote that ‘Silberrad was not a Friend, rather a sturdy Anglican, but her interest in and knowledge of the history of Quakers and other Dissenters is evident’.
This article prompted Margaret Smith, of Maldon Meeting, to get in touch with some local knowledge: ‘For the last few years of her life Una lived at Burnham Wick Farmhouse. The farm belonged to Douglas B Smith. He was a Quaker from Maldon Meeting, Essex.
‘His family were Quakers from a long way back. He lived at Wickham Bishops but farmed at Burnham as well. She must have known the family well.
‘Una is buried in the local church. She was a character and organised plays and amateur acting in the house with her sister and the Women’s Institute. My husband and I took over the farm and house when she died. We still have photos on the wall of her acting and plays and I, at least, am still a Quaker.’
Chocolate tales
David Hughes, from Shropshire, got in touch with Eye to share a chocolate-themed tale.
He writes: ‘David Jones’ letter (27 February) mentioning the three famous Quaker chocolate firms reminds me of a story told by a Yorkshire Friend at a Quaker gathering long ago.
‘He had been walking in the Dales and asked for chocolate at a village shop.
‘“Eh, we ‘ave Rowntrees and Cadburys and Frys.”
‘“Well, they’re all good Quaker firms,” he said, eliciting the comment, “Ay, t’ Quakers ‘aven’t sat still for nowt.”’
