Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal - 28 November 1896
SHIRLEY
An enjoyable lecture was given in the school room, on Wednesday evening, Nov. 18th, by the vicar, the Rev. W. R. Linton, the subject was "Simon Marner", and other works by George Eliot. A sketch was given of Mary Ann Evans' life, which was most interesting, as were also the quotations from her works, showing examples of her keen humour and rare faculty for discernment, in bringing to light the good qualities of ordinary people. The was a fairly good attendance, consisting of nearly all the members of the Shirley Home Reading Union.