The Copybook

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

1123

Photo by Herbert Rose Barraud (1845-1896), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

A Many-Chorded Lyre Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji of Nawanagar

Stylish batting in cricket is about variety, invention and frankly anything that works, and we have Dr W.G. Grace to thank for it.

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1124

From ‘The Book of the Cat’, by Frances Simpson (1903).

The Convert Harrison Weir

Victorian cat-lover Harrison Weir launches into his favourite subject, but finds his audience growing restive.

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1125

By Felix Nadar (1820-1910), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

A Very Special Correspondent Samuel Smiles

Pauline de Meulan’s magazine Publiciste was close to going out of business when an anonymous contributor stepped in.

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1126

© Carine06, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

A Curious Incident Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes has been engaged to find a missing thoroughbred, but seems more interested in some lame sheep and an idle dog.

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1127

© Bob Jones, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Taste and See Clay Lane

Wonder spread through a Tyneside monastery after Bishop Cuthbert asked for a drink of water.

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1128

By William Hodges (1744-1797), via the British Library and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Mir Kasim Clay Lane

The East India Company installed Mir Kasim as Nawab of Bengal, only to find that he had a mind of his own.

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