Self portrait (3) : Karmenu Vassallo

Abstract

When Mons. G. De Piro, Founder of the Society, died on September 17th, 1933, the Archbishop appointed Mons. Albert V. Pantalleresco, B.L.Can., D.D., as Superior of the Society. He used to meet us rather frequently and spend some time talking to us. I might as well point out that the Society's Superior was also responsible for the running of St. Joseph Institute, Hamrun, and therefore he had to cope with both establishments. I believe that, while I remained a member of the Society, Mons. Pantalleresco came to know me better than the Founder himself had ever done. Like myself, he was fond of Literature - especially Italian Literature - and more than once we engaged in short literary discussions. He did not forbid me to write poetry or prose in Maltese but there was one thing with which he interfered - orthography! He did not agree entirely with the Ghaqda's system of orthography - and I had to comply with his wishes. My way of reasoning was: " Better accept this and remain free to write rather than write as I like and not be allowed to do what I wished in the Muse's realm." I am sure that Anton Buttigieg, poet and ex-President of the Republic of Malta, now knows the reason why I folIowed Lehen is-Sewwa's orthography, and not that of the Ghaqda, for some time.