Introduction
Violet van der Elst (1882-1966) was a highly eccentric self-made businesswoman from a working-class background, who arguably did more than anyone else to end the barbaric practice of capital punishment. Yet she died forgotten and all but penniless, having given all she had for her cause.
VIOLET Ann Dodge’s first job was as a scullery-maid, but a groundbreaking brushless shaving cream she concocted in her kitchen, Shavex, made her independently wealthy. In 1937, she bought the crumbling Harlaxton Manor, once seriously considered by King Edward VII for his summer retreat.*
Three years earlier, Violet had been widowed a second time following the unexpected death of her husband, Jean van der Elst, and had responded by throwing herself into a campaign against capital punishment. She raised awareness with books and publicity drives, and even engaged bands to play Handel’s tear-jerking Funeral March from ‘Saul’ wherever an execution was taking place.
Violet spent the War in London, fire-fighting and caring for the homeless in the Blitz. Afterwards, she sold the Manor, which the War Office had left in a mess, and devoted herself to campaigning again. Her reward was the abolition of the death penalty in 1965, but victory had consumed both her and her fortune, and Violet died in obscurity a year later.*
The King bought Sandringham House in Norfolk instead. Violet’s house in Harlaxton now belongs to the University of Evansville, Indiana, USA, and is named Harlaxton College.
The Murder (Abolition of the Death Penalty) Act of 1965 was a four-year experimental measure, confirmed in 1969. No judicial executions have taken place since, and since 1998 no peacetime offence, including treason, has been punishable by death.
Précis
Violet van der Elst was a self-made businesswoman who made her fortune in cosmetics. The death of her second husband prompted her to lead an ultimately successful campaign to abolish the death penalty, and she also played a heroic part in the Blitz, but when she died in 1966 she was little-known and had exhausted her wealth on campaigning. (59 / 60 words)
Violet van der Elst was a self-made businesswoman who made her fortune in cosmetics. The death of her second husband prompted her to lead an ultimately successful campaign to abolish the death penalty, and she also played a heroic part in the Blitz, but when she died in 1966 she was little-known and had exhausted her wealth on campaigning.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, despite, if, otherwise, unless, until, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 But. Shaving. Unexpected.
2 Concoct. Engage. Manor.
3 Follow. Throw. Van.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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