The Spectator

From the archives | 29 January 2015

From our UK edition

From ‘Reprisals’, The Spectator, 30 January 1915: There has been a tendency among some newspapers, and perhaps still more among private persons, to demand that the murder of non-combatants on the East Coast by German ships of war and Zeppelins should be visited with reprisals. ‘Murder is murder,’ they say in so many words, and

The Spectator at war: Crime and punishment

From our UK edition

From ‘Reprisals’, The Spectator, 30 January 1915 THERE has been a tendency among some newspapers, and perhaps still more among private persons, to demand that the murder of non-combatants on the East Coast by German ships of war and Zeppelins should be visited with reprisals. “Murder is murder,” they say in so many words, and

The Spectator at war: Keeping the country sweet

From our UK edition

From ‘Economic Quackery’, The Spectator, 23 January 1915: Ever since the war began there has been a tendency to rely upon the Government, instead of relying upon ourselves and upon the operation of economic laws. The political mischief resulting is the establishment of what is virtually an un-controlled Cabinet autocracy. The economic mischief, though it

Trojan Horse

From our UK edition

‘Isn’t that nice? It’s a gift from the Jehovah’s Witnesses to apologise for being so annoying and pushy earlier today.’

Bamboo

From our UK edition

‘So, that’s bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo. And for you, Sir?’

Down

From our UK edition

‘So can I put you down as holding us in slightly less contempt than the others, then?’

Heaven 2

From our UK edition

‘I know my expectations of heaven shouldn’t have been so high but this is ridiculous..’

Beans

From our UK edition

‘Under present circumstances, a handful of beans for a dairy cow seems like a bargain, Jack.’