Books and arts – 5 February 2015
The Spectator
Thursday
The Spectator at war: The mountain and the mouse
From ‘News of the Week’, The Spectator, 6 January 1915: THE mountain has produced a curious little naval mouse. The meeting of the German Council of War, together with the Emperor’s State visit to the fleet at Wilhelmshaven, seemed to show that some great naval development was about to take place—either the coming out of
From the archives | 5 February 2015
From ‘News of the Week’, The Spectator, 6 February 1915: Germany proclaims a paper blockade of all the British coast, to be carried out, when possible, by submarines! This new act of war is really too childish for discussion. It means no fresh development whatever. The Germans, as before, will try to destroy our ships
Wednesday
The Spectator at war: Practical proposals
From ‘Practical Proposals’, The Spectator, 6 February 1915: “BUT, after all, something has got to be done about these high prices; what do you propose?” so will, we are sure, persist the practical man. Well, the appeal is not unnatural, and we will try to answer it in a practical spirit. We will attempt to outline
Tuesday
The Spectator at war: Shooting practice
From ‘Military Rifle Shooting’, The Spectator, 6 February 1915: THE most serious problem which confronts those who are engaged in training our New Armies is unquestionably that of shooting. Drill and marching are important; trench-digging is vitally important; but what shall these profit the soldier if, when he has reached his tactical point and dug himself
Saturday
The Spectator at war: Comparative advantage
From ‘Free Traders and Trade Problems’, The Spectator, 30 January 1915: There is every reason to believe that if the chemists of the country would now concentrate on these chemical problems, a solution would be found which would enable us to build up chemical industries capable of holding their own even against a German combine.
Friday
The Spectator at war: Germany shows her hand
From ‘The Running Fight in the North Sea’, The Spectator, 30 January 1915: THE splendid success of the battle-cruisers under Admiral Beatty in the North Sea last Sunday means much more than that they sunk the German armoured cruiser ‘Blücher,’ as well as a light cruiser, and very seriously damaged two German battle-cruisers. It means
Thursday
Doctor
‘Now does anyone here speak doctor?’
Porn 3
Saudi
‘He was a very moderate king.’
Tie
‘We’re doomed!’
Postcode 2
‘Hmm ...I don’t like the look of your postcode.’
Speech 3
‘I’m demonstrating in support of free speech but you’ve got to be so careful what you say these days.’
Hard Working
‘Can we stop being a hard-working family now?’
Teeth 2
‘OK, I’ll do something about my snoring if you agree to sleep with your mouth closed.’
Tickets
‘To hell and back? Standard off-peak return, any time or season?’
Bishop 4
‘Of course, she won’t be paid as much as a male bishop.’
Greeks
‘The Greeks have a word for it.’
Archers 2
‘Not now — it’s The Archers.’