The Copybook

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

619

© Peter McDermott, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

It’s Better by Rail The Annual Review

A contributor to the ‘Annual Review’ shared a flurry of facts about the new Liverpool and Manchester Railway, showing what a blessing it already was.

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620

© Jonathan Billinger, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Roses and Poor-Rates Thomas Babington Macaulay

When Robert Southey called for a fairer and greener economy, Thomas Macaulay warned that only politicians and bureaucrats would thank him.

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621

By James Walter Chapman-Taylor (1878-1958), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Career Change Samuel Smiles

An unemployed French labourer was amazed when a friend suggested becoming a French master to refined English ladies.

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622

From Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Till We Meet Again Lili Dehn

When Lili Dehn was bundled out of the Alexander Palace in the Spring of 1917, Empress Alix reassured her that they would meet again.

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623

By an anonymous artist, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Up Before the Bench Thomas Elyot

As a young prince Henry V was ‘fierce and of wanton courage,’ Thomas Elyot tells us, but there was one man with courage to match his.

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624

By Eastman Johnson (1824-1906), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Master and Slave John Aikin

A runaway slave is recaptured, and charged with ingratitude by the master who has taken such pains to afford him economic security.

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