1063
The great British public leaves a German tourist speechless during a county match at the Oval in London.
A German tourist spoke to K. S. Ranjitsinhji, the great Indian batsman, about his impressions of the Victorians and their fascination with sport. It was a county cricket match between Surrey and Nottinghamshire at the Oval which truly opened his eyes.
Posted July 7 2017
1064
Stylish batting in cricket is about variety, invention and frankly anything that works, and we have Dr W.G. Grace to thank for it.
K. S. Ranjitsinhji, the great Indian batsman, gives his assessment of the significance of Dr W. G. Grace in the history of cricket. For the good Doctor, batting was not about a narrowly perfect style but about getting runs, making batting more inventive and exciting to watch.
Posted July 7 2017
1065
Victorian cat-lover Harrison Weir launches into his favourite subject, but finds his audience growing restive.
On the eve of the world’s first Cat Show, held in 1871 at the Crystal Palace in London, organiser Harrison Weir was frankly boring a friend with his flights of ecstasy on cats. Just when the argument seemed lost, a happy inspiration struck him.
Posted July 6 2017
1066
Pauline de Meulan’s magazine Publiciste was close to going out of business when an anonymous contributor stepped in.
François Guizot (1787-1874) was the 17th Prime Minister of France, and a historian with a particular affection for England. ‘If he was treated with harshness by his political enemies,’ wrote Samuel Smiles, ‘his consolation was in the tender affection which filled his home with sunshine.’
Posted July 5 2017
1067
Sherlock Holmes has been engaged to find a missing thoroughbred, but seems more interested in some lame sheep and an idle dog.
‘Silver Blaze’, a fancied thoroughbred, has gone missing on the eve of the big money race, and his owner, Colonel Ross, has called in the police. In turn, Inspector Gregory has called in Sherlock Holmes, but as the ever-loyal Dr Watson records, the Colonel is getting impatient with London’s most fashionable ‘consulting detective’.
Posted July 3 2017
1068
Wonder spread through a Tyneside monastery after Bishop Cuthbert asked for a drink of water.
St Cuthbert was Bishop of Lindisfarne for just two years, but his overwhelming popularity did not come from high office. It came from his tireless journeys to forgotten villages in Northumbria’s bleak high country, taking the Christian message and a fatherly affection to every corner of the kingdom.
Posted July 2 2017