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7

A False Economy

By Samuel Smiles

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.

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Picture: © Richard Symonds, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

Posted January 27 2022

8

The Crimes of Mr Pitt

By William Pitt the Elder

William Pitt was a rising star of British politics in 1741, so much so that Horace Walpole MP felt he needed his wings clipped — an operation fraught with peril.

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Picture: From the studio of William Hoare (1707–1792), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted January 1 2022

9

Surrey vs Hampshire

From Sporting Magazine

‘Rain stopped play’ but it did not stop the ladies of Surrey and Hampshire from finishing their epic struggle at the Newington ground.

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Picture: By Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827), via the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain image.. Source.

Posted October 23 2021

10

The Grammar of Jays and Cats

By Mark Twain

In Jim Baker’s considered opinion, the bluejay had a much better command of language than Mark Twain’s cats did.

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Picture: © Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

Posted October 2 2021

11

A Little Savoir Faire

By George W. E. Russell

At the Berlin Congress of Powers in 1878, the draft of the Prime Minister’s keynote speech had his anxious aides scuttling about like ants.

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Picture: Photo by Jabez Hughes, from Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted May 4 2021

12

Mozart’s Genius

By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

An amateur composer once asked Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart how he thought of his lovely music and — for one performance only — the maestro told him.

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Picture: By Joseph Lange (1751–1831), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted March 12 2021

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★ St Mary of Egypt Back in the 6th century, Mary was consumed by an addiction so compulsive that she would use and discard anyone to satisfy it.

For Today • March 24 • The Sunday of St Mary of Egypt

★ The Lion and the Ant Richard I thought a veteran Crusader and conqueror of Saladin could handle a few French peasants.

For Today • April 6 • The death of King Richard I

In This Sign Conquer Bishop Eusebius recalls what Constantine told him about the vision that brought him the crown.

Posted February 26 • The Copy Book

Phrases Use phrases such as ‘to the town’ in sentences, with nouns or with verbs.

Posted February 26

The Marks of a Tyrant Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle explains what it is that defines a tyranny.

Posted February 25 • The Copy Book

Keep It Short Plutarch argues that it when it comes to strong speech, less is always more.

Posted February 24 • The Copy Book

Anagrams Shuffle the letters of each of these words to make new ones. See if you can match the number indicated.

Posted February 23 • Think and Speak

Polyword: Mere Make as many words as you can using the letters of one nine-letter word. Can you beat our score?

Posted February 21 • Think and Speak

Go to the Ant Solomon recommends taking lessons from one of God’s smallest but most hard-working creatures.

Posted February 20 • The Copy Book

Chariots of Steam Erasmus Darwin imagines how steam power will change the world.

Posted February 16 • The Copy Book

Music Video Modest Mussorgsky: Sorochinsky Fair: Gopak

Posted February 16

Fragments Develop these short phrases into complete sentences.

Posted February 15 • Think and Speak

The Moral Case for Family Farms Richard Cobden called on Parliament to support small, family-owned farms.

Posted February 14 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha Takes a Photograph Lewis Carroll records a suburban photoshoot in the style of Longfellow.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Nouns of Number William Cobbett gives his son James some helpful examples of collective nouns.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha’s Inspiration Henry Longfellow tells us how his tale of a heroic Native American warrior came to him.

Posted February 12 • The Copy Book

Near Synonyms These words have very similar meaning but they are not the same — can you show the difference?

Posted February 12

Music Video Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha: And They Said Farewell Forever

Posted February 12

Music Video Leroy Anderson: Irish Suite: II. The Minstrel Boy

Posted February 11

The Travellers and the Axe Two men find an axe, and then find some trouble, but they aren’t keen on sharing either of them.

Posted February 11 • The Copy Book

Train

Posted February 9 • Think and Speak

The Prophecy of Peter of Pomfret Peter foretold that King John would cease to be England’s sovereign, and he was right, though John still wore his crown.

Posted February 9 • The Copy Book