The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

253

Matthias Stom (fl. 1615–1649), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Inordinate Saving Samuel Smiles

Samuel Smiles warned that taking care of the pennies should not come before taking care of living.

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254

By the Fairfax Corporation, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Underqualified Flight International

Amy Johnson of Hull had clocked only ninety hours of flying experience before taking off alone for Australia.

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255

By Hugh Charles McBarron, Jr. (1902-1992), via the US Army Center for Military History and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Lady Harriet’s Errand General John Burgoyne

On the evening of October 7th, 1777, as fighting on Bemis Heights subsided, Harriet Acland came to General Burgoyne with a startling request.

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256

© Eric Cosmides, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Keeping the Colonies John Trenchard

Peoples of another culture or region will not long tolerate a Government that uses guns and soldiers to secure their obedience.

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257

, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

At the Baron’s Board Anonymous

However grim and severe the thirteenth century baron might be in his public duties, at dinner-time it was all wine, laughter and song.

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258

© Darren J. Prior, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Politics of Language John Lynch

John Lynch, exiled to France by Cromwell’s men, lamented the way that Irish was being labelled as a language of sedition.

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