But first...
Dulltown, UK: Today's microbe is the one sitting on the edge of the shelf in the kitchen, it is wondering whether to jump off into the salad dish below.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It's that tattered, old, well-thumbed, book again.
The 1934 edition of the Daily Express Enquire Within.
It's actually in pretty good condition for something 88 years old - slight crack in the spine and surprisingly little yellowing of the paper. It's a heavy little book, about the weight of a pair of walking boots. Perhaps we'd better have a look at the title page, the cover itself is rather plain, just a dull red cloth effect with black lettering.
It is filled with information on everything - well, a wide range of subjects, one would need, living in the Britain of the 1930s.
Across the top of each page there are some words of wisdom, a proverb, or a historical fact; I will include some of these with today's items.
Page 25. (Nothing is cheap if you don't want it.)
Roasting.
A Haunch or Gigot - i.e. the leg and part of the loin of mutton - generally weighs about fifteen pounds, and requires about three hours and a half to roast it. Send up two sauce boats with it; one of rich-drawn mutton gravy, made without spice or herbs, and the other of sweet sauce.
Page 383. (A gambler and a swindler are near neighbours.)
Hints on taking a house.
ii. Avoid the neighbourhood of graveyards, and of factories giving forth unhealthy vapours. Avoid low and damp districts, the course of canals, the localities of reservoirs of water, gas works, &c. Make enquiries of the drainage of the neighbourhood, and inspect the drainage, and water supply of the premises. Endeavour to obtain a position where the direct sunlight falls upon the house, for this is absolutely essential to health.
Page 273. (Guard the foot, and the head will seldom harm.)
Gargles.
Astringent. - Take two teaspoonfuls of roses and mix with eight ounces of boiling water, infuse for one hour, strain, and add one teaspoonful of alum and one ounce of honey of roses.
Use for severe sore throat, relaxed uvula, &c.
Page 369. (A sooty chimney costs many a beefsteak.)
The English Language.
vii. The misdivision of words and syllables. This defect makes the words 'an ambassador' sound like 'a nambassador', or 'an apple' like 'a napple'.
Some of these misdivisions of words have become permanent in our language, such as 'an adder' originally 'a nadder'; 'an apron' originally 'a naperon'.
Page 188. (Printing brought to England by Caxton A.D. 1471.)
The Fox-Trot.
There are many steps in this most popular dance, but only a few can be given here. It is danced to 4-4 time, the gentleman advancing.
First step.- Glide forward left-right-left-right (count four); then quickly left-right - left - right - left - right (count eight).
Second step. - Two-step to the left (count two) two-step to right, (count three- four). Twirl four times. (count 5-6-7-8)...
No comments:
Post a Comment