Improvement of the Mind by Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748) and Stephen Norris Fellows (1830 - 1908) Genre(s): Self-Help Read by: InTheDesert, Ron Altman, SreeramC, Leigh Briar, jenno, KHand, Owlivia, Kassandra, Isen7, Kerry Adams in English Cover design by Annise. Chapters: 00:00:00 - 00 - Introduction 00:03:22 - 01 - General Rules for the Improvement of Knowledge 00:39:49 - 02 - Five Eminent Methods of Gaining Knowledge 01:10:59 - 03 - Rules Relating to Observation 01:21:14 - 04 - Of Books and Reading 01:47:49 - 05 - Judgement of Books 02:09:59 - 06 - Of Living Instructors and Lectures, of Teachers and Learners 02:19:34 - 07 - Of Inquiring into the Sense and Meaning of any Writer or Speaker, and especially the Sense of the Sacred Writings 02:26:42 - 08 - Rules of Improvement by Conversation 02:55:12 - 09 - Of Disputes and Debates 03:09:29 - 10 - Of Study, or Meditation 03:27:57 - 11 - Of Fixing the Attention 03:37:14 - 12 - On Enlarging the Capacity of the Mind 03:59:08 - 13 - Of Improving the Memory 04:56:28 - 14 - Of Determining a Question 05:32:01 - 15 - Of Inquiring into Causes and Effects 05:42:59 - 16 - Methods of Teaching and Reading Lectures 06:02:21 - 17 - Of an Instructive Style 06:14:32 - 18 - Of Convincing Other Persons of any Truth, or Delivering them from Errors and Mistakes 06:30:28 - 19 - Of Authority. Of the Abuse of it: and of its Real and Proper Use and Service 06:45:31 - 20 - Of Treating and Managing the Prejudices of Men 'No man is obliged to learn and know everything; this can neither be sought nor required, for it is utterly impossible; yet all persons are under some obligation to improve their own understanding; otherwise it will be a barren desert, or a forest overgrown with weeds and brambles. Universal ignorance or infinite errors will overspread the mind which is utterly neglected and lies without any cultivation. The common duties and benefits of society, which belong to every man living, as we are social creatures, and even our native and necessary relations to a family, a neighborhood, or government, oblige all persons, whatsoever, to use their reasoning powers upon a thousand occasions; every hour of life calls for some regular exercise of our judgment, as to time and things, persons and actions: without a prudent and discreet determination in matters before us, we shall be plunged into perpetual errors in our conduct. Now, that which should always be practiced must at some time be learned.' This version has been abridged from Watt's original by Stephen Norris Fellows as follows: 'In endeavoring to adapt it to the needs of the present, the following changes have been made: First — Nearly one-third of the book has been eliminated, as being too theological or too closely related to the age and country of the author. Second — A brief but comprehensive analysis has been prepared, which appears as a table of contents. Third — Prominence is given to some of the more essential doctrines by stating them in large type, while explanatory and illustrative matter is given in smaller type. But few changes have been made in the text other than those mentioned above, as it seemed desirable to preserve the unique and forcible style of the author. The original work was first published in 1727, and although it is over one hundred and fifty years old, yet its teachings are in substantial harmony with the truest pedagogical doctrines of to-day. It is believed that in its present form and dress it is adapted to private reading, and reading circles, and also as a text-book in Secondary and NormaI Schools.' - Summary by Introduction and Preface More information: https://librivox.org/improvement-of-the-mind-by-isaac-watts/ LibriVox - free public domain audiobooks (https://librivox.org/)

Whittington and his Cat by E. L. BLANCHARD (1820 - 1889) Genre(s): Comedy Read by: in English Chapters: 00:00:00 - 00 - Dramatis Personae 00:01:07 - 01 - Scene I 00:17:28 - 02 - Scene II 00:29:03 - 03 - Scene III 00:40:01 - 04 - Scene IV 00:45:15 - 05 - Scene V 00:53:10 - 06 - Scene VI 01:02:37 - 07 - Scene VII Whittington and his Cat, or Harlequin Lord Mayor of London was the 26th Grand Comic Christmas Annual, written by E. L. Blanchard for performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London in 1875. Pantomimes are a favourite Christmas entertainment in England, and in Victorian times were usually written in rhyming couplets. They featured a Principal Boy (played by a girl) and a Dame (played by a man). Over the years they became ever more elaborate with fantastic costumes, huge casts and spectacular transformation scenes. We shall have to leave these to your imagination, dear listener, but we hope that our performance will give you a flavour of Victorian panto.This version of the story of Dick Whittington was produced from a torn and well-used copy of the pantomime script, and a long search online and in various British libraries for the original music, details of which may be found here.The lyrics of the last song are the cast's curtain call and include the names Wright, Vokes and Coveney, the Vokes family and Harriet Coveney being famous celebrities in Victorian pantomime.Dick arrives in London to search for the fabled 'streets paved with gold' and after being reunited with his cat Tom who has followed him, finds the mercer Mr. Fitzwarren (for whom business is not going well), his lovely daughter Alice and the fearsome Dorothy the Cook. Many high jinks ensue. (Summary by Ruth Golding)Cast:Dick Whittington - PhilippaHugh Fitzwarren, mercer - Kim StichAlice Fitzwarren, his daughter - Jc GuanDorothy the Cook - TomTom the Cat - Andy MinterThe Fairy Bluebell - Cori SamuelThe Sovereign of Zanzibar - Phil ChenevertCaptain - David LawrenceFirst Apprentice - Anne ChengSecond Apprentice - IkkuFirst Girl - Anna RobertsSecond Girl - TriciaGThird Girl - Lucy PerryHelmsman - mbNarrator - Ruth GoldingAudio edited by Ruth Golding More information: http://librivox.org/whittington-and-his-cat-by-e-l-blanchard/