Arnold's father had returned to Australia after converting to Catholicism and finding it impossible to work.

For Christmas in 1877, Lewis Carroll devised the word game of Doublets for Julia and Ethel.

Mary persuaded her that her ambition to be an actress should not be pursued and she later said that Ethel had insufficient experience to be a successful writer.

[3] Arnold took a late interest in writing between 1890 and 1900 but she spent a lot of her energy in speaking tours where she would address the issue of gaining women the vote.

She returned in 1910 offering a wide range of talks on her notable ancestors and child humorists like Lewis Carroll.

The St Louis Equal Suffrage League cited her talk as the inspiration for the organisation's formation.