The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1011, May 13, 1899Various
General
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1011, May 13, 1899
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
The book was the _Pilgrim’s Progress_, by John Bunyan, and he who said
it was Lord Macaulay. The general rule, Lord Macaulay points out, is
that when the educated minority and the common people differ about the
merit of a book, the opinion of the educated minority finally prevails.
The _Pilgrim’s Progress_, of which the numerous early editions were
evidently intended for the cottage and the servants’ hall, the paper,
the printing, and the plates being all of the meanest description,
furnishes a notable exception. A wonderful book! “One of the few
books,” says Coleridge, “which may be read repeatedly at different
times, and each time with a new and a different pleasure.”
=67. Who was the young Fellow of Oxford who, during the latter half of
last century, eloped with a banker’s daughter, and came in the end to
be Lord Chancellor of England?=
“When on a visit to Newcastle,” writes a competitor, “I was taken to
see the window through which Bessy Surtees came when on the 18th of
November, 1772, she eloped with Jack Scott, who afterwards became Lord
Eldon. He was the Lord Chancellor referred to in the question.” Yes,
that is so. By the aid of a ladder and an old friend, “this adventurous
young man,” as one girl calls him, carried off the lady from her
father’s house, and away they went across the Border to Blackshiels
in Scotland, where they were married. It proved a happy and fortunate
union, but the example, we need hardly say, is not recommended for
general imitation.
=68. What plant was introduced early in the seventeenth century into
this country as an ornamental plant, but is now a favourite vegetable?=
We had in view the scarlet-runner bean, which is a native of South
America, and was introduced into England in 1633, when “it was at
first only cultivated in the flower-garden as an ornamental plant, and
it is treated as such by all the early writers on flowers.” Several
other plants were named by competitors, and in some cases with a
considerable show of reason, but the one we have named is perhaps the
most striking example.
=69. Who was the father of English cathedral music?=
Amongst the musicians named by girls as bearing this honourable title
were St. Ambrose, Palestrina, Orlando Gibbons, Henry Purcell, Handel,
Haydn and Bach. These were given in error. He who is justly called
“the father of English cathedral music” is Thomas Tallis, or Tallys,
as he himself spelt his name, who was born about 1515 and died about
1585. “His genius,” says Mr. W. S. Rockstro, “has left an indelible
impression upon the English school, which owes more to him than to any
other composer of the sixteenth century, and in the history of which
his name plays a very important part indeed.”
=70. What may justly claim to be the greatest work of imagination in
the world?=
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account