We’re celebrating 150 years of “The People’s Friend” and among the great features included in our anniversary issue is a poignant article by author Mary Wood.
She tells of how her family has had more than 120 years of connection with the “Friend”. Her great-grandmother Dora Langlois wrote for the magazine – her first serial was published ‘way back in 1898. Mary’s own mother was a life-long subscriber of the “Friend”, and Mary herself, who has read the magazine since the age of eleven, has also been featured in the magazine.
Perhaps One Of The First “Selfies”
Dora, along with her husband Hippolyte, were also stars of the stage and may have been the first couples to take a “selfie”.
Mary explains, “The picture here isn’t in bad condition when you consider it’s been handled for more than 100 years – can you imagine that?
“Of added interest is that it’s perhaps one of the first “selfies”. Great-grandfather Hippolyte took it with a time release. I imagine him posing Dora, then setting the camera and then skipping across the room and jumping on to the chaise longue just in time for them to be snapped together.”
You can read Mary’s article in “The People’s Friend” January 12 issue.
Mary says, “It’s a fitting tribute to a lady I have long admired and aspired to be like as I heard so much about her as a child and since. I know my family are going to be thrilled. I only wish my mum could be here to see this, she would have loved it.”
Mary Wood
Yvonne McKenzie I work on the Features team and admit to being nosy, so I love looking after the Between Friends letters and finding out all about our lovely readers. I also look after our health copy and enjoy writing about inspiring people that help make the articles in the magazine so interesting.
