Books · Humour
Once a Snail put out An advert: "To let: flat with a gate Of its own. Peace, quiet. Kitchen garden And garage. Water. Lighting. Ground floor." Scarcely had the notice Appeared in the wood When at once there began A stir all around. Many answered. From his lookout
NB! · The East · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour
Donald Duck and the beautiful slave girls of Chaldea. These days he would already be sitting through a hearing in the Senate
NB! · Art · Books
When Lancelot rescued Queen Guinevere from the otherworldly land of Gorre, he had to undergo many trials of body and soul. For instance, to prove his resolve to press on whatever the difficulties, he had to cross a bridge that was, in fact, an enormous and unbelievably sharp sword
Archive · Observations · Humour
Look what they've done to the poor fellow! 1897: the very latest invention, combining physical exercise with the morning toilette. Rather poor apparatus you have in your gymnasium, sir.
Aristocracy · Monarchies · Humour
When Tsar Alexander III learned that the true father of Paul I had been the chamberlain Sergey Saltykov, he exclaimed: "Thank God, we are Russian!" When Alexander III was at last persuaded that the father of Paul I was Peter III, the Emperor crossed himself in relief: "
Archive · Art · People
Jemelia Pugatschew in prison. The German caption reads: A rebel in Russia under the assumed name of Tsar Peter III in the Orenburg Governorate. A very rare engraving by Hiller, c. 1780, with a portrait of Yemelyan Pugachev
NB! · Books · Mores · Society
NB! · Faith · Art
The delightful "Virgin at Prayer" and "Christ in Sorrow" from the workshop of Albrecht Bouts, from the recent Old Masters sale at Sotheby's in France. This pair of Flemish Renaissance works from the Venetian collection of the Duchess of Berry sold for a little
Art · Books · Mores
Oh, how I long to go back, Oh, how I long to burst into the little town, Onto our street of three houses, Where everything is plain and familiar, for just a day. Where people walk in on you without asking, Where there is no envy and no spite, a
Monarchies · Observations · Society · Humour
Political technologies, tried and tested over the centuries:. ..managed to stir up the guards' indignation against Peter Fyodorovich and to rouse sympathy for Catherine; and so that there should be no doubt as to the latter's kindness towards the guards, the conspirators warmed the mood of the
Archive · Books · Mores · People · Humour
Knight of the Rueful Countenance, Dostoevsky, dear little puffball, on the nose of literature you glow like a fresh new pimple. Among Nekrasov's verses there is one entitled "Belinsky's Epistle to Dostoevsky", written in January 1846. It is sometimes described as "collective"
NB! · Books · People