Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
By an anonymous artist, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
While on tour in Austria, Irish tenor Michael Kelly was introduced to Mozart, and discovered a man of many talents and much kindness.
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© Paul Sidwell, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Man had proved spiritually unprepared for the discovery of coal, said Robert Bruère, and was poised to squander the next energy revolution too.
© Ernst Sandau (1880–1918), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Sir Bernard Pares warned that after the Great War, Western powers must not assume Germany’s role as supercilious bully.
© Richard Symonds, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
Thomas Telford told the parish council of St Chad’s Church in Shrewsbury that their leaky roof was the last thing they should worry about.
© Yellowst0ner, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
A French poodle won the heart of a fastidious English officer by covering him in mud.
© Markus Trienke, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Twenty teams of dogs ran a life-or-death race against time over Alaska’s frozen trails to bring medicines to desperately sick children.