…reading, by the open fire, the Illustrated London News of August 5, 1893, sitting on its original shelf in its original (rather battered) binding…

It celebrated the Tercentenary of Izaak Walton, (p. 157), of interest to me because I’m interested in S.P. who dedicated “The Love of Amos and Laura” to him. In 1624 we learn he was dwelling on Fleet Street, two doors west of the end of Chancery Lane.

You can’t describe the ILN as high-brow, but it does range widely. This issue also has a piece on the marvels of “Ongcar the Great” (Angkhor Wat), whose age at this time, at least to this writer,seems to have been a mystery.

The illustrated bit is always a delight – there’s a lovely etching on the cover of the House of Commons punch-up, over Home Rule, “the most scandalous episode which has been witnessed in the House for many generations”(doubt that somehow), provoked by the use of “biblical but unparliamentary term” Judas”, and a nice portrait of “Elizabeth Hanbury, a Quaker centenarian by Percy Bigland”.

The adverts too are fun – we’re well into the age of celebrity endorsement, so Lillie Langtry is advertising Pears’ soap – “for years I have used your soap, and no other”, and Titan soap, illustrated with a before and after of black and white poodle, with its virtues attested in a quote from “The Lady” magazine “dirt flies before it…clothes wash themselves.” [No advertising standards authority then.] And leading the obits is a short account of “Mrs John Pearless, who under her maiden name Anne Pratt wrote many books dealing with botany.” She died on July 27, aged 87.