From The Spectator, 27 February 1915: Observers of birds have been much interested by the evidence, which seems to be fairly satisfactory, that pheasants in as remote a part of England as Westmorland were disturbed by the firing in the North Sea on the day of Sir David Beatty’s action and showed many signs of excitement.
Had the public been asked, before Monday morning, to identify two MPs who stood for honesty and decency, the names Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind would have been prominent among their replies. Both have served as foreign secretary, Straw also as home secretary and justice secretary. Neither seemed unduly driven by personal ambition, nor
From ‘The Attack on the Dardanelles’, The Spectator, 27 February 1915: THE British public have recognized the importance of the attack on the Dardanelles. They have seen instinctively that it means a great deal more than the mere bombardment of the vulnerable points offered by the enemy’s forts on the European and Asiatic sides of
From ‘News of the Week’, The Spectator, 27 February 1915: A MOVEMENT which will appeal to many people as the most significant and romantic in the war was begun on Friday week, when an Anglo-French fleet appeared off the Dardanelles and bombarded the forts. Early in the morning Cape Relies and Kum Kaleh were bombarded
From ‘Pitfalls in Bookland’, The Spectator, 20 February 1915: EVERY bookman knows that the taste for buying books inevitably outruns the capacity for reading them. At first a man buys a book only when he wants it vehemently—when he is so anxious to enjoy it that he despatches the preface while he is waiting for
From ‘The Psychology of Drill’, The Spectator, 20 February 1915: One is tempted to divide all men under drill into two classes—the precipitate and the tardy. Every one who has listened to a drill instructor’s words knows that the first part of a command is cautionary. For instance, in “Right—turn” there is a pause between
Pooh stick
‘It’s a lovely day. Surely someone wants to come outside to fight?’
‘The coast is clear, Cap’n, I think we’re safe to board her.’
‘It’s wonderful to see them behaving naturally in the wild rather than being forced to perform in captivity.’
‘Before I begin, has everyone taken their statin?’
‘We need to be careful. It could be full of election promises.’
‘Here comes the private jet.’
He used to be rampant. Nowadays he’s just couchant.’
‘I don’t know for certain but she could be the god of multitasking.’
Before you proceed, Spirit, I must tell you that this conversation may be recorded for training purposes.’
‘Couldn’t you stop growing your beard now, Roger?’