The Copybook

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

391

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

Watch Dog Anonymous

The doorman of a Paris theatre had strict instructions to keep dogs outside, but it was the humans they let in who caused all the trouble.

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392

© Azanulbizar74, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Naked Aggression Richard Cobden

Richard Cobden told his audience in the London Tavern that however much sabre-rattling was heard in St Petersburg, the average Russian was a man of peace.

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393

Paulus Hector Mair (1517-1579)

Robin Recruits a Merry Man Anonymous

It was George-a-Green’s job to stop animals trampling the crops, and it nettled his pride in Wakefield’s broad acres to see some ramblers behaving no better.

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394

© 先従隗始, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain image.

Hideyoshi Changes His Mind Joseph Longford

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Chancellor of the Realm and Imperial Regent of Japan, was inclined to encourage Christianity until he found out why European Powers were so keen on it.

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395

Anonymous, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Third Hand Joseph Hirst Lupton

John Mansur, working in Islamic Syria, thought he could safely criticise the Roman Emperor for meddling in Christian worship. But he was wrong.

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396

© Maverick.bukhari, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Akbar Takes the Plunge Samsam ud Daula Shah Nawaz Khan

Emperor Akbar’s court physician told his nobles that beneath the waters of a lake was a dry, cosy room, and dared them to find a way in.

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