I have previously written about Charles Johnston, W.B. Yeats, George Russell, and their role in bringing the Theosophical Society to Ireland. The impact of this extended beyond Ireland, influencing the Irish Literary Revival in America. After the death of W.Q. Judge in March 1896, his successor, Katherine Tingley, planned a global polytheizing mission called the Theosophical Crusade. In honor of Judge’s hometown, the “Crusaders,” as they were called, planned their European Convention to be held in Dublin.[1] When they arrived in Ireland in August (1896,) they paid a visit to Charley and Vera Johnston at their home (131 Leinster Road, in the Rathmines suburb of Dublin.)[2] As the most recent issue of Theosophy (the successor to the American Theosophical journal, The Path) noted, Vera Petrovna, (Vera’s mother, and Madame Blavatsky’s sister,) died on May 18, 1896. Vera, who believed the British Theosophists never gave her mother the respect that she deserved, was moved by the obituary included in the July 1896 issue of Theosophy.[3] The death affected Charley as well, who regarded Vera Petrovna as a second mother. Around the time of her death, Charley had a dream of Blavatsky and her sister, linked arm in arm, laughing and talking merrily with one another.[4] Charley saw in Tingley something that reminded him of Blavatsky, and “the same wonderful power of kindling in others the enthusiasm for spiritual things.”[5] Vera was particularly enchanted by Tingley, this handsome American woman, with a clever open face. There was something “amazing” about her which both she and Charley felt immediately.[6] Charley wrote of the experience for The Providence Journal.[7]
After the Convention, Charley, Vera, Russell, and local members of the Dublin Branch, camped with the Crusaders at Killarney.[8] “The kindly Children Of Twilight, seen by some, passed us by with shadowy draperies,” Russell stated. “Perhaps it was by spell of song and music we raised them from their subterranean palaces.”[9] The Crusaders left Ireland with the support of Charley and the Irish Theosophists. A month later, Charley and Russell, under the auspices of the Dublin Theosophical Society, delivered lectures in Dublin’s Central Lecture Hall on September 16, 1896. Charley’s subject was “Inspiration.” [10] (The talk was likely similar to Johnston’s December 1896 article, “Inspiration,” which appeared in The Metaphysical Magazine.)[11] Charley then received an invitation from the American Theosophist, Clem Griscom, to come to America.[12]
Charley went to work with M.J. Murphy, author of The National Songs of Ireland (1892) to form a syndicate to spotlight the works of contemporary Irish writers and offer them a fair remuneration.[13] “The hour is heavy with fate,” Charley writes. “The soul of Ireland, after ages of drowsy dreaming, is ready to awake once more into life; and these are the singers of her songs before sunrise.”[14] He then sent letters enlisting the help of his friends, including Russell and Yeats.[15] “Half Hours With Contemporary Irish Authors,” began publication in The Catholic Union And Times in November 1897 with Charley’s piece on John O’Leary and his childhood friends (Yeats, Tynan, Russell, etc.) Other contributors included Vera, who wrote about her impressions of Belfast, Douglas Hyde, T.W. Rolleston, Standish O’Grady, and Nora Hopper.[16] The series ended the last week of December 1897.[17]
In 1901, Charley published a book on Irish history titled, Ireland.[18] It was re-published a year later under the title, Ireland, Historic And Picturesque. With its talk on lost civilizations, it would not take much of a cross-textual analysis to interpret this work through a Theosophic lens.[19] On March 19, 1903, Charley lectured at the John Boyle O’Reilly Reading Circle at the hall of the Catholic Union, Boston. His topic, “Some Phases of the Irish Literary Revival,” would mark the next focus of his life.[20] On May 1, 1903, Charley was elected temporary president of the Irish Literary Society Of New York (an American off-shoot of The Irish Literary Society) at its inaugural meeting in Sherry’s, at Forty-fourth Street and Fifth Avenue. Its aim was to promote “the study of the Irish language, history, music, drama, and art,” with every effort devoted to the “establishing of an Irish literary and historical center for Irish-Americans.” Elaborate plans were proposed for the future of the organization. The Society, it was agreed, was to be conducted along lines “non-political and non-sectarian,” and would be incorporated under the laws of New York State. It was proposed to meet once a month, at which papers will be read and discussed. Lectures would be delivered before the members of the Society and their friends, and historical classes organized. It is also proposed to hold public assemblies in the form of art exhibitions, concerts, etc., at which Irish art, music, and literature would be the focus, and original Irish dramas would be presented at intervals. The Society would also cooperate with the Irish Literary Societies of Dublin and London, both of which had acquired fame and distinction. A building with a lecture hall and meeting rooms, and a complete library and librarian was also planned. The rooms of the society are to be open day and evening and would “contain objects of interest in the shape of art, pictures, rare books and historical things in connection with the history of Ireland.”[21] That May, Charley’s article, “Ireland And Her Land Laws,” appeared in Harper’s Weekly. “As the son of an Irish landlord early indoctrinated with the strictest principles of imperialism and Protestant ascendency,” he writes, “the great measure revolutionizing conditions in Ireland has, for me, a special and singular interest.”[22] Two weeks later, in his capacity as the newly-elected President of the Irish Literary Society, he delivered a free lecture at the Carnegie Lyceum about “The Recent Irish Literary Revival,” with Justice O’Brien on May 29, 1903.[23] “Quietness, gentleness of act and speech are among Justice O’Brien’s dominant characteristics,” Charley would state. “I have heard him speak in exactly the same gentle tone while telling fairy stories to his youngest daughter, or replying to a toast at a public banquet, or presiding on the Bench of the Supreme Court.”[24] A month later, on June 22, 1903, Charley (living at the Brevoort House) became a naturalized citizen. The Theosophist, A.H. Spencer (a member of the Executive Committee of the New York Theosophical Society) acted as his witness.[25]
W.B. Yeats visited Charley in August 1903, the papers noted that because of Johnston’s work, “a good many people believe that the recent Irish Literary Revival has a serious import.”[26] Yeats’ lecture was part of the tour managed by Charley’s Irish Literary Society of New York.[27] A volume of plays from Yeats was to be produced. “Pot Of Broth,” and “Cathleen-ai-Hoolihan,” would be presented by the Irish Literary Society of New York, at the Carnegie Lyceum. Henry F. Gilbert composed a Dierdre overture to be performed with the plays and Charley would deliver a public lecture on the revival a week before the plays were presented.[28] Charley awakened Gilbert’s interest in stage music by introducing him to Yeats and members of the Irish Literary Society, who commissioned Gilbert to write more incidental music for Yeats’ Riders To The Sea, and The Twisting Of The Rope during the following year. Charley and Gilbert would also embark on another project, an opera based on Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories, of which Charley would write the libretto. Charley and Gilbert did not intend for Uncle Remus to be a “Grand Opera” in the European model, however, but a work consisting of set-numbers interspersed with spoken dialogue which would be more serious and artistic than the contemporaneous operetta or musical comedy.[29] It was at this time that Charley wrote “Personal Impressions Of W.B. Yeats” for Harper’s Weekly.[30] During his tour, Yeats lectured at Harvard’s new lecture hall on December 1, 1903. (He met William James during this trip.)[31]
In 1905 Charley co-wrote another Irish history book, Ireland’s Story, with Carlita Spencer (daughter of A.H. Spencer.)[32] On St. Patrick’s Day Eve of that year, he gave the first speech for that occasion a dinner given by the Bay Ridge (Brooklyn) Chapter of the Knights of Columbus. “St. Patrick instituted large schools in nearly every parish in Ireland,” Charley stated. “He made Ireland the center of religion and learning, while the rest of Europe was in intellectual darkness […] In this way, not only were the European peoples taught religion, but they were also taught the liberal arts.”[33] By the summer of 1905, Charley joined the faculty of Columbia University as a lecturer for the Extension Courses. To facilitate the work of instruction for students further away from the campus at Morningside Heights, Columbia’s Administrative Board authorized the use of local neighborhood centers for remote learning. Charley would deliver many of his lectures at the new Brooklyn Institute or Williamsburg’s Henry McCaddin Memorial on Berry Street.[34] That autumn he delivered a series of lectures on Irish history for the People’s Institute at Cooper Union, and “St. Patrick And Classical Learning,” at Columbus Hall.[35] Charley then went to Baltimore, Maryland, to interview Cardinal Gibbons for the fourth installment of “Men Of Today,” a series of articles he was writing for Harper’s Weekly. “Our talk naturally turned to the golden age of the Irish Church,” Charley writes, “when missionary scholars from Ireland taught not religion only, but Latin and Greek, art and science, mathematics and astronomy, to the new-born nations of western Europe.”[36]
In 1906 Charley published a reminiscence of Yeats with an article on Poet Lore titled, “Yeats In the Making.”[37] (This was during the time that Charley participated in the Theosophical Salon in Washington Square.) A year later, Charley’s third book on Ireland was published, Ireland Through The Stereoscope.[38] Between 1907 and 1908, Charley continued teaching at Columbia’s Extension School, giving lectures “On The History Of Russia,” “History Of Religion,” “History of Ireland,” and “Five Types Of Irish Characters.” Charley delivered a course of six lectures on the “Six Types of Irish Character,” at McCaddin Hall, Berry Street, near South Third Street.[39] Using a choice selection of illustrative lantern slides. “Column of the Church,” “Brian Boru, the King,” “Owen Roe O’Neill,” “Edmund Burke, the Statesman.” His audience increased with each lecture until last evening all the seats were taken for the talk, “Daniel O’Connell, the Liberator.” When Charley finished, an enthusiastic vote of thanks was proposed. Charley responded with a compliment for the sympathetic attention of his audience. He laughingly declared that he knew his lectures had done some good judging from a letter that he recently received. The writer of the note said they overheard a woman state at an earlier lecture. “I used to hate the Irish, but, after all I see, there must be something good in them.”[40] His third piece on Yeats, “The Poems Of W. B. Yeats,” was published in The North American Review at the conclusion of these lectures.[41]
In 1908 he was Special Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin.[42] During the Winter a series of exhibits was given at the Madison Public Library. A number of “old books, laces, linens, embroideries, articles made from the famous bogwood, maps, and photographs,” for the Irish exhibit were loaned by a citizen of Madison in connection with two lectures about Ireland by Charley.[43] He returned to New York in 1909 where he and Vera were reunited with J.B. Yeats. That May, John Quin, a “generous patron of all that was both Irish and good,” found the elder Yeats a room at Maison Petitpas (a bohemian boarding house on West Twenty-ninth Street, operated by the three Breton sisters, Josephine, Marie, and Celestine.)[44] J.B. Yeats soon had a crowd that gathered about him every evening. Drinking red wine at 25 cents a bottle, the group would discuss literature, art, and music. Vera was among those who gathered. American women, she would tell J.B. Yeats, were “extraordinarily free but never do anything wrong.” A point on which the elder Yeats agreed. “That is absolutely true. They will talk on any subject, but they are all Dianas.” Vera also revealed, in confidence, a falling out that she and Charley had with Russell. She said that “there is a real fine Russell, but that of late it has become submerged,” and alluded to “some very unfair attacks” Writing to his son after the conversation, J.B. Yeats would state: “Though there is a Real Russell, which is magnanimous, one must not forget that Russell is a prophet and the center of a circle, and therefore intensely self-appreciative.”[45] J.B. Yeats observed that although Charley had been singing Yeats’ praises in New York, Yeats had written him a letter that was “rather laconic and cold.”[46]
[1] As stated in Theosophical News: “In selecting Dublin as the place for the European Convention…the Theosophical Society paid a tribute to the memory of its late founder, who was born intuit city. For other reasons also the choice was a fitting one. Ireland in the far past was known as the Sacred Isle, and its Theosophical Convention of which we find record was at Mount Usna, when Amargin the Druid lit the sacred fires, which were afterwards tendered by the Tuatha de Danaan Adepts. Though much of the ancient glory has departed, all of the primeval fires have not been extinguished, and mystics have never at any time been lacking among all the children of this race.” [“From Within Outward.” The Theosophical News. Vol. I, No. 11 (August 31, 1896): 1.]
[2] Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (ed.) Armorial Families Pt. I. T.C & E.C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works. Edinburgh, Scotland. (1895): 554.
[3] “Obituary.” Theosophy. Vol. XI, No. 4 (July 1896): 126.
[4] Johnston, Vera Vladimirovna. 17/5 March [18] 96. Ballykilbeg. County Down. [Ireland.] “From the Letters of Vera Vladimirovna Johnston (1884–1910).” Bakhmut Roerich Society.
[5] “Mirror Of The Movement.” Theosophy. Vol. XI, No. 9 (December 1896): 283-288.
[6] Vera writes: “You see even from the description that the similarity is not only with Aunt Lelya [Blavatsky,] but also with Aunt Liza […] You will see for yourself in the photographs sent […] She is the most wonderful person of all our Americans […] She talks about our aunt, and about you, and even about Russia, as if she always knew us all. And it’s all so matter-of-fact, without the slightest pretense, or desire to surprise or convince. I have to force myself to remember that I have only known her for some two weeks […] I feel with her as with an old friend. The main trait in her is great kindness […] Of course, various irresponsible zealots spread rumors, that she is a Medium, whom our aunt has possessed, while others claim she is the new incarnation of our aunt, but this is nonsense. She, herself, states that she is simply a kindred spirit to our aunt, and that she has the same ability to see, and hear, the invisible and inaudible for others…Whether it is so or not, she is an amusing, lovable and kind-hearted creature whose friendship we should cherish.” [Johnston, Vera Vladimirovna. August 4, 1896, 125 Leinster Road. [Dublin. Ireland]. “From the Letters of Vera Vladimirovna Johnston (1884–1910).” Bakhmut Roerich Society.]
[7] [Johnston, Charles. “American Crusaders.” The Providence Journal. (Providence, Rhode Island) September 6, 1896.]
In 1887 Alfred Williams, an Englishman settled in America, “with extraordinary flair for literature and [a] curious passion for Ireland,” was visiting the widow of Michael Banin in Dublin. Williams was the editor of The Providence Journal, “a very wilderness of a paper,” of which Mrs. Banin was a frequent contributor. While he was in town, he made the acquaintance of Tynan, and asked her to contribute her prose to the paper, to which she agreed.[7] Other young writers of the burgeoning Irish Literary Renaissance would follow suit and contribute works to that paper until Williams resigned in 1891. [Reynolds, Horace. A Providence Episode In The Irish Literary Renaissance. The Study Hill Club. Providence, Rhode Island. (1929): 1-21, 38.]
[8] “Crusaders In Camp.” The Theosophical News. Vol. I, No. 11. (August 31, 1896): 1, 3; “The Crusade.” The Theosophical Forum. Vol. II, No. 5. (September 1896): 75-80.
[9] Russell, George W. “The American Crusaders At Killarney.” The New Century. Vol. I, No. 10. (December 4, 1897): 5.
[10] “Theosophy And Inspiration.” Dublin Daily Express (Daily, Ireland) September 17, 1896.
[11] Johnston, Charles. “Inspiration.” The Metaphysical Magazine. Vol. IV, No. 6 (December 1896): 401-413.
[12] Johnston writes: “Clement Griscom did much to facilitate my coming, in that kind and gentle way which was so deeply characteristic of him; and from that time forward, his friendship was among my most precious possessions.” [Johnston, Charles. “Reminiscences.” The Theosophical Quarterly. Vol. XVI, No. 4 (April 1919): 323-326.
[13] Davis, Eugene. “M.J. Murphy” The Catholic Union And Times. (Buffalo, New York) January 31, 1895; Murphy, M.J. The National Songs of Ireland: A Collection of the Best Irish Patriotic, Military and Party Songs. J. Church Company. Cincinnati, Ohio. (1892.)
[14] “Half Hours With Contemporary Irish Authors” The Catholic Union And Times. (Buffalo, New York) November 11, 1897.
[15] In December 1896, (AE)/Russell writes to Yeats: “Dear Willie, I enclose letter received from Charlie Johnston. He is writing a series of illustrated articles in [an] American magazine upon modern Irish writers, you, O’Grady, Hyde, myself & others. He wants to interest the Irish millions in America, who are not readers, in the latest developments and the Celtic renaissance. All this is in line with our plans, and we ought to help him in every way. Even as a mere matter of business it ought to appeal to you. My publisher has sent over almost twenty pounds in royalties within the last year or so, and I know that if you and O’Grady who make an appeal to a much wider public were properly place[d] in the American market, it would result in much monies, a thing which the spirit despises but which the lower man accepts with a sneaking gratitude, as it is by this he lives. Do what you can at once to help out this laudable purpose. He is making a presentation of modern Irish Books with autographs of authors to the library of the New York police force who are Irish almost to a man, and one of the most powerful influences over there in all matters concerned with Ireland. I do not know where you are now, London or Paris. If in London move the Literary Society there to see the true inwardness of this. It is in fact ‘throwing a sprat to catch a whale.’ Johnston is communicating with O’Grady, Hyde, Rolleston, and others on this. Back of it all lies our hopes. Johnston has become a fervent Celt. It will do him much good, and us also, as his articles are very popular in U.S.A. in the best magazine[s] there like the Arena and are much quoted. He leaves New York in March for further west, so this thing ought to be carried through at once. Also dear Willie Yeats I conjure you as you love Ireland and the Gods, do not let the Spring pass without one book at least being in the hands of a publisher. I have finished my contribution. Hyde I know had part of his done last autumn and I am writing to him about this and other things. Magee can finish his on a weeks notice. Do what you can Willie, we have a splendid chance which must not be let pass. What Emerson did for America by his declaration of intellectual independence we can do here with even more effect. The Gods are filling the country with fire; we must do our share. If you I and the others do not you will find others inspired to your shame. Don’t delay my dear old friend, for the sake of this dreamy, beautiful land of ours, act as only those can who are fired by long dreaming. Be like one of those swift doers of deeds the heroes of ancient Eri and let us strike our blow. Work up Lionel Johnson or let him drop out if he wont fall into line. You, O’Grady, Magee and myself will bring the new spirit and perhaps Hyde. Anyhow now is our time. We must have Geddes. A London publisher would be no good.”—Finneran, Richard J., George Mills Harper, and William M. Murphy, eds. Letters To W.B. Yeats Vol. I. The MacMillan Press Ltd. London, England (1977): 26-27.
[16] Johnston, Charles. “With John O’Leary.” The Catholic Union And Times. (Buffalo, New York) November 11, 1897; Lee, John G. “Milesian Heraldry.” The Catholic Union And Times. (Buffalo, New York) November 18, 1897; Hyde, Douglas. “On some Unpublished Love-Literature.” The Catholic Union And Times. (Buffalo, New York) November 25, 1897; Rolleston, T.W.. “Irish Decorative Art, Old And New.” Catholic Union And Times (Buffalo, New York) December 2, 1897; Hopper, Nora. “A Tribute From Breffny.” Catholic Union And Times (Buffalo, New York) December 2, 1897; Johnston, Vera. “The Old Land.” Catholic Union And Times (Buffalo, New York) December 16, 1897; O’Grady, Standish. “Fianna Eireen.” The Catholic Union And Times. (Buffalo, New York) December 23, 1897.
[17] “Orangemen Are Sad” The Catholic Union And Times. (Buffalo, New York) May 5, 1898.
[18] Johnston, Charles. Ireland. Merrill And Baker. New York, New York. (1901.)
[19] Johnston, Charles. Ireland, Historic And Picturesque. Henry T. Coates. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (1902): 60-65.
[20] “Irish Literary Revival.” The Boston Globe. (Boston, Massachusetts) March 15, 1903.
[21] “Irish Literary Society Starts On Its Career.” The Brooklyn Citizen. (Brooklyn, New York) May 2, 1903.
[22] [Johnston, Charles. “Ireland And Her Land Laws.” Harper’s Weekly. Vol. XLVII, No. 2421. (May 16, 1903): 815.] He would also write a piece for The North American Review along similar lines. Johnston, Charles. “Mr. Wyndham’s Land Act And The Future Of Ireland.” The North American Review. Vol. CLXXVII, No. 563 (October 1903): 552-563.
[23] “To Talk On Ireland’s Literary Revival.” The Sun. (New York, New York) May 29, 1903.
[24] Johnston, Charles. “Men Of Today VII: Hon. Morgan J. O’Brien, Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division.” Harper’s Weekly. Vol. L, No. 2570 (March 24, 1906): 445, 457.
[25] “New York, Southern District, U.S District Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1946”, database with images, FamilySearch. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP76-18JM : 8 March 2021), Charles Johnston, 1903.
[26] “In The World Of Books.” The New York Herald. (New York, New York) August 15, 1903.
[27] “Lecture By Mr. W.B. Yeats.” The Harvard Crimson. (Cambridge, Massachusetts) December 1, 1903; “Poet Yeats At Harvard.” Boston Post. (Boston, Massachusetts) December 2, 1903; Mulachy, J.B. (Mrs.)”A Pen Portrait Of Mr. Yeats.” The Gael. Vol. XXII, No. 12. (December 1903): 425; “Irish Literary Society Starts On Its Career.” The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, New York) May 2, 1903; “To Talk On Ireland’s Literary Revival.” The Sun (New York, New York) May 29, 1903; Quinn, John. The Irish Literary Society Of New York Constitution And Officers. The Irish Literary Society Of New York. New York, New York. (1903): 1.
[28] “Book Notes.” The Pittsburgh Post. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) July 5, 1903.
[29] Boston Symphony Orchestra. “Comedy Overture On Negro Themes.” Programme. (1910-1911): 1659-1669; Longyear,Rey M; Longyear, Katherine E. “Henry F. Gilbert’s Unfinished ‘Uncle Remus’ Opera.” Anuario Interamericano de Investigación Musical. Vol. X. (1974): 50-67.
[30] Johnston, Charles. “Personal Impressions Of W.B. Yeats.” Harper’s Weekly. Vol. XLVIII, No. 2461 (February 20, 1904): 291.
[31] “Poet Yeats At Harvard.” Boston Post. (Boston, Massachusetts) December 2, 1903.
[32] Johnston, Charles; Spencer, Carlita. Ireland’s Story: A Short History of Ireland for Schools, Reading Circles, and General Readers. Houghton Mifflin. New York, New York. (1905); [Carita Spencer] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – March 31, 1925; Roll #: 425; Volume #: Roll 0425 – Certificates: 72101-72400, 07 Nov 1917-09 Nov 1917.
[33] “Knights Of Columbus Dine.” The Brooklyn Citizen. (Brooklyn, New York) March 17, 1905.
[34] “Extension Teaching.” Columbia University Catalogue (1906-1907): 379-382; Columbia University. “Announcement Of Extension Teaching” Columbia University Bulletin Of Information. No. 23 (1907-1908): 12, 22; “Brooklyn Gets Two New Lecture Centres.” The Brooklyn Times Union (Brooklyn, New York) December 28, 1907; “Brooklyn Institute Notes” The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, New York) February 1, 1908.
[35] The lectures at the People’s Institute were titled: “The Making Of The Irish Race,” “The Story Of Ireland,” and “The History Of Ireland.” see “What Is Going On Today.” The New York Tribune. (New York, New York) November 14, 1905; “What Is Going On Today.” The New York Tribune. (New York, New York) November 21, 1905; “What Is Going On Today.” The New York Tribune. (New York, New York) December 5, 1905; “What Is Going On Today.” The New York Tribune. (New York, New York) December 12, 1905; “What Is Going On Today.” The New York Tribune. (New York, New York) December 19, 1905. Johnston lectured on “St. Patrick And Classical Learning,” at Columbus Hall, 16th Street and Columbus Avenues on January 22, 1906. see “The Week’s Free Lectures.” The New York Times. (New York, New York) January 21, 1906.
[36] Johnston, Charles. “Men Of Today IV: His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons.” Harper’s Weekly. Vol. L, No. 2567. (March 3, 1906): 304, 316.
[37] Johnston, Charles. “Yeats In The Making.” Poet Lore. Vol. XVII, No. 2 (Summer 1906): 102-112.
[38] Johnston, Charles. Ireland Through The Stereoscope. Underwood & Underwood. New York, New York. (1907.)
[39] Columbia University. “Announcement Of Extension Teaching” Columbia University Bulletin Of Information. No. 23 (1907-1908): 75-76; “Brooklyn Gets Two New Lecture Centres.” The Brooklyn Times Union (Brooklyn, New York) December 28, 1907; “Brooklyn Institute Notes” The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, New York) February 1, 1908; “Types Of Irish Character” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) February 15, 1908; “Talked About Brian Boru” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) February 22, 1908; “Owen Roe O’Neill” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) March 1, 1908; “Edmund Burke, Statesman” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) March 7, 1908.
[40] “Makes Converts By His Lecture” The Standard Union (Brooklyn, New York) March 14, 1908.
[41] Johnston, Charles. “The Poems Of W. B. Yeats” The North American Review, Vol. CLXXXVII, No. 629 (April 1908): 614-618.
[42] Johnston, Charles. “Tutoring Lawmakers.” Harper’s Weekly. Vol. LIII, No. 2727 (March 27, 1909): 15; Johnston, Charles. “Co-education At Close Range.” Harper’s Weekly. Vol. LIII, No. 2739 (June 19, 1909): 797-80; H.B.M. “Charles Johnston.” The Theosophical Quarterly. Vol. XXIX, No. 3 (January 1932): 206-211.
[43] Rogers, Bertha H. “Interesting Exhibits At The Madison Public Library.” Wisconsin Library Bulletin. Vol. V, No. 1 (January-February 1909): 13-14.
[44] Roberts, W. Adolphe. “He Started Again After 70.” The Billings Gazette. (Billings, Montana) February 19, 1933.
[45] J.F.B. to W.B.Y. May 21, 1909, New York. “Mrs. Charles Johnston tells me Russell made some very unfair attacks on Charlie and she recognized his style in Susan’s article. (This was said in private, and I suppose confidentially. Therefore, perhaps it ought to be kept to yourself.) She says there is a real fine Russell, but that of late it has become submerged. I don’t profess to give her words. Both Johnstons are very indignant with him on their own account, their ideas of personal dignity and behavior making it, I imagine, impossible that they should make reprisals.” Finneran, Richard J. (ed.) Letters to W.B. Yeats. MacMillan Press. London, England (1977): 213-215.
[46] Murphy, William M. Prodigal Father: The Life of John Butler Yeats (1839-1922.) Cornell University Press. Ithaca, New York. (1978): 347-348.
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