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49

Beginner’s Luck

By Mark Twain

As proof that ‘Providence protects children and idiots’, Mark Twain recalls his first taste of ten-pin bowling.

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Picture: By William M. Vander Weyde (1871–1929), via George Eastman House Collection and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: No known copyright restrictions.. Source.

Posted May 26 2017

50

Honourable Mr Fox

By Samuel Smiles

The colourful Foreign Secretary humbly accepted a lesson in manners from a local tradesman.

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Picture: By James Gillray. From the National Portrait Gallery, via Wikimedia Commons.. Source.

Posted May 1 2017

51

On Equal Terms

By Samuel Smiles

An aristocratic statesman was choked with emotion as he reflected on Britain’s creative social mobility.

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Picture: © Ian Capper, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

Posted January 10 2017

52

As Good as his Word

By Samuel Smiles

Benjamin Disraeli did not make a promising start to his Parliamentary career - but he did start with a promise.

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Picture: Photo by Henry Lenthall (1819-1897), from the Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted January 7 2017

53

Wellington’s Secret

By Samuel Smiles

The future hero of Waterloo dealt with political ambush as comfortably as he dealt with the military kind.

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Picture: Via Wikimedia Commons.. Source.

Posted October 20 2016

54

Triumph in Adversity

By Samuel Smiles

Two famous figures, one from the sciences and one from the arts, who turned suffering to advantage.

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Picture: © Richard Crowest Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

Posted October 10 2016

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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