SCHEDULE LECTURE BY AE NEXT MONTH AT UNION

George W. Russell, AE, Irish poet, painter, critic, economist, dramatist, and prophet will speak at the Union on January 7, 1931 at 8 o'clock. The subject of his talk has not yet been announced.

This versatile and famous Irishman, now in his sixties, came from a poor family. His early ambition to be a painter could not be fulfilled, because it would mean long study in schools and much money to support him. His family could not afford this, and Russell went to work in an accounting office. He was not able to take up painting until he was over forty years of age.

At nights, after his work in the accounting office, he wrote poetry. It was at this time that he became AE. He wrote under the pseudonym of Aeon, but because of his illegible handwriting the typesetters on the papers to which his first efforts were contributed, unable to read the signature, printed only the first two letters. He has kept this nom de plume ever since.

Interest in Economics

Sir Horace Plunkett, head of the Irish Agricultural Society, seeing his poetry, asked Russell to join the movement, and it was in this way that AE became interested in farming and economics. He has since been a believer in agriculture and its benefits to civilization. It is his theory that in the farming population lies the future of every nation. The man of the city is blighted by the noise and confusion, and if ever the farming population should cease to be, civilization could not last more than three generations, he claims.