Cirrus@Austlit

'Yelwarc' provides an account of Walter Jeffery's early career in London and his literary output in Australia; he particularly notes Jeffery's collaboration with Louis Becke on novels such as A First Fleet Family.

A column reporting snippets of personal information on Victorian identities. In this column reference is made to Louis Becke's visit to London and the interest in that visit taken by the Earl of Roseberry.

Mrs Ellen Todd takes offence at Steele Grey's description (in 'Henry Lawson: A Fellow Poet's View') of Louisa Lawson as a 'currency lass'. Todd outlines Lawson's editorship of the Dawn and extols her other virtues (including raising her son, Henry Lawson). In response, the editor of the Free-Lance apologises for any offence caused by the use of the term, explaining that it 'is generally understood (by vide Rolf Boldrewood among others) as meaning simply an Australian-born girl'.

A column canvassing current literary news including announcements of upcoming publications of Australian writers by Angus and Robertson, Ward, Locke & Co. and Routledge. (Most of the titles noted appeared in 1896, but the column mentions a prose work by A. B. Paterson - 'A Saltbush Certainty' - and a novel by Henry Lawson - 'The Hero of Ridelay [Red Clay]' - which do not appear to have been published.)

The column notes Steele Robertson's intention to publish a collection of his poems under the title 'The Pathway of the Sun', 'a poem which led off a Christmas Bulletin a couple of years back'.

Reprinted is an item from the previous week's Sydney Daily Telegraph, reproduced from the London Daily Mail. The column relates to Ethel Turner's presentation in London society by Frances Hodgson Burnett. (The Free-Lance disputes the timing of Turner's visit, claiming the author was in Sydney at the time of her supposed London visit.)

Mrs Waverley Brown is a member of the Congregational Church and secretary of the Higher Life and Purity Society. Speaking with an acquaintance in the society, she disparages women who work as prostitutes. In fact, Waverley Brown also is a prostitute. Her secret is discovered and, to avoid exposure, she quietly resigns her position in the society claiming 'highly strung nerves' and a period of 'dangerous excitement'.