reflection on the part of the reader. One realizes that the writer has something to say as well as to feel, that underneath the moods there is a basis of ideas.”9
Although a critical success, the book enjoyed only limited commercial success. Perhaps that is why True clipped and kept among her papers a poem by Frances Bragan Richman which began, “ They tell me poetry doesn’t pay/And they’re right, I suppose, in a practical way. Since what does it profit a rose to bloom/Like a lamp in summer’s living room?”10
With the loss of her salary from the Vocational Bureau, True had to scramble to supplement the small income made from her writing. Her letterhead from 1932 listed her as doing “Manuscript Criticism, Revision, Research, Statistical Work, Typing, Placement”11 and there is a small advertising card in her files in which she advertised a course for “Current Literature Groups” that she was leading. The same flyer also advertised that she would provide special lectures on topics as varied as, “The Straw Scarecrow and other Dictators, The Matriarchal Tradition, These Crazy Poets, A Trip to China in Novel Company, Women at War” and noted that she would provide “similar Topical Talks for professional and other specialized organizations. Fees according to numbers and purpose.”12 Among some of the groups to whom she spoke were the Lyceum Women’s Art Association, where she criticized modern poetry, and the Lynbrook School Dramatic Club, where she spoke about amateur theatricals, “stressing the possibilities and pitfalls open to beginners.” 13 Many years later, True was asked by a shy student about her public speaking. Clara Thomas wrote that “the reply was one of the most unforgettable pictures of True that she treated us to. “I practise in front of a mirror,” she said. “I’ve practised all over, sometimes in hotel rooms, before a mirror, wearing the hat I’m going to speak in, and my slip.”14
True Davidson, 1923, age 22. Courtesy David Cobden
Another of her schemes was an attempt to work up orders for a book of poems from the shop owners along Bloor Street which they could use both as advertising and as incentives for their customers. Under this enterprising scheme she proposed to publish 1,000 copies of her poems which had been inspired by the scenes along Bloor Street; to sell three hundred of them through bookstores; and to distribute the remaining seven hundred to a selected list of addresses in Rosedale and the Annex or (for an extra fee) to the preferred customers of the sponsoring firms along with their card. All advertisers were to have their name and address also shown at the bottom of the poem they had inspired.15 She got an estimate on the cost of printing the book from the T.H. Best Printing Co. which described it as having “64 pages...28 pages small cuts, quarter bound, cloth back and paper board sides.” She went as far as to have them prepare dummies in October 193316, but she was never able to sign up sufficient subscribers to have it published.
While her money-making activities were a constant struggle, True enjoyed several successes in other areas as she continued her involvement with left-wing organizations and took part in debates and other activities at the university and with the University Women’s Club and the Business and Professional Women’s Club. A review of one of this latter group’s debates noted that “the subject of the debate was: “Resolved, that business women make the best wives.” The affirmative was upheld by Miss Jane McDowall and Miss Helen Lynn, and Miss True Davidson and Miss Mary Dale Muir were on the negative side. The argument proved an amusing one, and the result was lost in the laughter of the audience.”17 At another debate, the University of Toronto Womens’ Union declared that they would prefer to be Agnes MacPhail than film star Mary Pickford.18
In April 1931, True was awarded a $100 prize from the Women’s Canadian Club for “the best poem written in Canada that year.” Shortly afterwards a collection of her poetry was published which received several glowing reviews and which heralded her work as challenging in “comparison with any of the women who are given prominence among Canadian poets.” Courtesy David Cobden
Her involvement in left-wing organizations likely began from her contacts with the League for Social Reconstruction and the Canadian Forum and was strengthened by her own financial struggles and by the conditions observed while she worked at the Vocational Bureau. One of her earliest activities helped the Toronto Branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom set up a book-room.19 The wife of one of True’s professors, Anna N. Sissons, was the corresponding secretary for this organization and it was at her home that True had lunch with J.S. Woodsworth and experienced what she later described as an “old-fashioned religious conversion.” This led her join the C.C.F. in 1934, only two years after it was founded.20 Professor C.B. Sissons, a University of Toronto classicist, was Woodsworth’s cousin and had been the best man at his wedding. In a later interview she repeated that she “was first attracted to socialism by J.S. Woodsworth, the C.C.F. leader...[because of his]...love for people. You could warm your hands in his personality.”21 Woodsworth was about the same age as her father and his dedication, deep sense of calling and ministerial experiences in the western provinces doubtless reminded her strongly of him. Although Woodsworth had considerable influence on politics and on the provision of social services in Canada, he was far from a typical politician. He was driven by ideals rather than the necessities of maintaining political power, although he negotiated many very successful compromises. Once again True had found a sense of calling. As Walter Young wrote in his book, The Anatomy of a party: The National C.C.F. 1932-1961 “... the socialism of the CCF inspired service and sacrifice; it was a faith [its members felt] worth crusading for since it offered everything that was good and opposed all that was bad.22 Woodsworth told a national convention, “In our efforts to win elections we must not yield to the temptations of expediency. Let us stick to our principles, win or lose.”23 Although, like the majority of the party, True later supported the declaration of war against Germany in 1939, it was Woodworth’s principled stand against it that she remembered best and later included in a short poem.
Opponents said to J.S. Woodsworth once
(The noted pacifist), “We must fight fire
With fire,” but, smiling gently, he replied
“Fight fire with water, rage with peace, and hate
With patient understanding and with strong
Persistent loving and with tireless faith....24
Throughout her life True collected odd newspaper clippings and wrote out quotations which appealed to her. Among these are some which reveal aspects of her thoughts and feelings about the party. One of these quotes, attributed by her to Grover Cleveland’s “Annual Message for 1888”, said “The Communism of combined wealth and capital...[is]...not less dangerous than the communism of oppressed poverty and toil.” Another noted that “Socialism inevitable if world wants to avoid Communism” and another, somewhat sadly, that “Those of us who are in earnest must be ready to face antagonism, ostracism.”100
Her experiences in the Depression showed in one of her poems entitled, “Free Enterprise.”
“My little plant,” the manufacturer said
With modest praise, leading his guest by row,
On row of trembling girls, who worked below
The earth-line, in his cellars. Pale as snow
The flowers in their cheeks. That was a bed
Where only livid parasites could grow.
He
