[Editor: This is section 1 of “Barcroft Boake: A Memoir ”, by A. G. Stephens, published in Where the Dead Men Lie and Other Poems (1897).]
[Barcroft Boake’s early years]
Most of the material for the following account of Boake’s life has been supplied by his father, Mr. B. C. Boake, whose kindness I gratefully acknowledge. I have also received valuable help from Miss Clarice Boake, a sister of the poet; from Mr. W. A. Lipscomb, surveyor, with whom Boake worked as assistant; from Mr. L. C. Raymond, for some time his associate while with Mr. Lipscomb; from Mr. F. S. Boyd, his old mate; from Mr. Alex. McKeahnie and Miss Jean McKeahnie, of Rosedale Station, N.S.W., Mrs. John McKeachie (née McKeahnie) of Dungalear Station, N.S.W., and Mrs. O’Connor and Miss O’Connor, of Wagga, N.S.W. — among the most prized of Boake’s few friends. Thanks to these and others, I do not think that any important fact in Boake’s life, or trait in his character, has escaped me.
When undertaking to edit this volume, I felt, as Australians must feel, keen literary grief at the early death of an Australian writer so brilliant and promising as Boake. Proceeding with the task, that literary grief became a personal grief. My admiration of the poet did not lessen: it merged in admiration of the man. From a hundred little sources flowed evidence of Boake’s courage, of his generosity, of his unselfish affection, of his simplicity and worth. That listless, shy, moody, dispirited bushman hid under an unprepossessing exterior a heart of gold — his mother’s.
There is a modern theory which holds that the characters of both male and female are contained in every individual of a bisexual species. At some time previous to birth causes still imperfectly understood decide which set of characters is to become overt, which to remain covert. But often it seems as if influences this way and that had been so equally balanced that the preponderating sex is belied by the outward symbols. We speak of ‘masculine women,’ of ‘effeminate men.’ And it is curious to note how in such persons, as life goes on, the sex really dominant frequently develops secondary characteristics in defiance of the sex primarily in possession.
If the idea be grasped that outward sex-form is no infallible indication of the dominant sex, but merely an expression of the resultant of sex-forces at one particular stage of growth, a flood of light is shed on apparent physical and psychical anomalies. We see every individual not as male wholly or female wholly, but as compounded of male and female in proportions indefinitely varying. This person, outwardly male, is essentially three-fourths female; that one, outwardly female, is one-third male; yonder is another in whom male and female meet on equal terms. The combinations are infinite.
Such a theory explains, for example, why ‘George Eliot,’ with all her talent, could rarely write poetry; since the basis of poetry is emotion, the male sphere is essentially intellectual, and George Eliot was markedly male. It explains, for example, why John Keats was so emotionally sensitive; since the female sphere is essentially emotional, and a poet is half woman. To male intensity and originality he must join female receptivity and sympathy; thinking deeply, yet not more deeply than he feels; blending head and heart in happy unison. As the male element is prominent in the literature of actuality, so the female element is prominent in the literature of imagination. It is especially prominent in poetry; for, while the most idealistic fiction builds on a realistic basis, to the poet belongs the pure ideal: he alone can dwell in the rarest ether of phantasy.
[Image on page 160]
Boake’s mother was a native of Adelaide, where she was born on 5th January, 1845. Her maiden name was Florence Eva Clarke. She was the only child of her parents; and at the time of her marriage on 7th March, 1865, she had been living with her mother in Sydney, having come thither from Adelaide on the death of her father several years previously. Her father, Henry Clarke, was by profession an accountant, and in many ways she resembled him. Her mother outlived her, and died on 8th August, 1894.
[Image on page 161]
Barcroft Capel Boake, father of the poet (still living at Daylesford, Victoria), was born at Dublin, Ireland, on 12th November, 1838. His unusual name of Barcroft had been handed down in the family for generations; and came to him from his cousin and godfather, the Rev. Barcroft Boake, D.D., one-time incumbent of Holy Trinity Church, Balaclava, Melbourne. As a lad he gained some experience in photography; and when he emigrated to Australia at the age of twenty he found a profitable living in the business.
The young couple were married at St. John’s Church, Darlinghurst, by the Rev. Edward Rogers. They commenced their life together at Vergemont Cottage, Waterview Bay, Balmain; where their first child, Barcroft Henry Thomas, the subject of this memoir, was born on 26th March, 1866. As a boy he was in no way remarkable. A portrait of him at the age of five shows a smiling, sweet-faced child beside a sweet-faced, smiling mother — the resemblance in feature and expression being then, however, less distinct than it was later.
[Image on page 162]
While the boy was in Nouméa the Boake family removed to North Willoughby, not far from Sailor Bay, one of the arms of Middle Harbour. Here, on 4th November, 1879, Mrs. Boake died of puerperal fever, after giving birth to twin boys — one of whom died in infancy, while the other, an idiot, lived to the age of fourteen. She had in all nine children: two, a boy and a girl, died in their third year; four daughters are now living.
[Image on page 163]
His father at this time was prospering in business, and Barcroft grew up a sturdy lad, well cared for. At an early age he could swim and handle a boat. In cricket and football he took less interest; but he was a good tennis-player, and he rode a pony, as well as a bicycle of the old-fashioned pattern. He went to school till he was about seventeen — for a few months at the Sydney Grammar School, and for nearly five years with Mr. Edward Blackmore, in Hunter-street, Sydney. He displayed no unusual ability; and is described as a quiet, reserved boy, yet by no means mopish; fond of reading; noticeably honourable, generous, and constant in his affections. He was particularly attached to his grandmother, Mrs. Clarke, who took charge of the household when her daughter died; and his letters in later years of absence frequently make loving enquiry as to her welfare.
[Image on page 164]
Adaminaby is a small township in the elevated Monaro district, where in parts during winter snow sometimes covers the ground for weeks together. Here Boake spent two happy years. He was just turned twenty, and eagerly welcomed the change from city streets. His health was perfect; his surroundings novel and interesting. He lived, for the most part, the free out-door life congenial to him; and at Rosedale Station Mr. and Mrs. Alex. McKeahnie welcomed him to a home circle for whose members he cherished warm and lasting regard.
Source:
Barcroft Boake, Where the Dead Men Lie and Other Poems, Sydney (NSW): Angus and Robertson, 1897, pp. 155-166
Editor’s notes:
Alex. = an abbreviation of the name “Alexander”
B. C. Boake = Barcroft Capel Boake (1838-1921), a photographer; he was born in Dublin (Ireland) in 1838, came to Australia in the 1850s, and died in Mosman (Sydney, NSW) in 1921 (he was the father of the poet Barcroft H. Boake)
See: “Barcroft Capel Boake”, Wikipedia
D.D. = Doctor of Divinity
See: “Doctor of Divinity”, Wikipedia
George Eliot = the literary pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880), an English author, poet, and journalist; she was born in Nuneaton (Warwickshire, England) in 1819, and died in Chelsea (London, England) in 1880
See: “George Eliot”, Wikipedia
John Keats = John Keats (1795-1821), an English poet; he was born in Moorgate (London, England) in 1795, and died in Rome (Papal States; now part of Italy) in 1821
See: “John Keats”, Wikipedia
mate = friend, buddy, chum, pal (commonly refers to the male friend of a male); colleague, comrade, fellow, partner (e.g. classmate, messmate, shipmate)
N.S.W. = an abbreviation of New South Wales (a colony in Australia from 1788, then a state in 1901)
née = (also spelt: nee) used to indicate a birth name or a previous name, especially used regarding the maiden name of a married female, e.g. if Jane Citizen marries John Doe, then a reference to her (such as in a legal or literary context, where the writer might want to include her former name) could be expressed as “Jane Doe, née Citizen” or “Jane Doe (née Citizen)”
Nouméa = the capital city of New Caledonia
See: “Nouméa”, Wikipedia
novel = new; newly created, evolved, formed, or made; of recent origin; original, without precedent
phantasy = an archaic spelling of “fantasy”
puerperal fever = (also known as childbed fever) a fever caused by an infection of the female reproductive system (especially an infection of the uterus) following childbirth or miscarriage
See: “Postpartum infections”, Wikipedia
Rev. = an abbreviation of “Reverend” (a title given to a minister of a church, a priest, a member of the clergy)
St. = (abbreviation) Saint
thither = over there, yonder; to or towards that place or point (regarding somewhere which has already been mentioned); in that direction, further away; (archaic) to that end, point, or result
yonder = at a distance; far away
[Editor: Changed “Mrs O’Connor” to “Mrs. O’Connor” (added a period, in line with the practice used elsewhere in the Memoir).]
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