Sir John Bowring (1792–1872) was an English political economist, traveller, miscellaneous writer, polyglot, and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong.[2]
The work strives to educate as well as entertain. A contemporary reviewer argued that the author "has kept view the establishment and nurture of sound principle in young minds".[3] The third volume, published in 1839, focused on "Oriental History" and folklore.[4]
Contents and synopsis
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2014)
Minor Morals is centered on the Howard family—Mr Howard, a wise father and storyteller, his wife ("Mrs. Howard"), and their three children: Arthur, George, and Edith. Mr. Howard imparts various lessons and tales to his children.
Volume I (1834)
Anger
Courage
Generosity
Intolerance
Advice-Giving
Presence of Mind
Humanity to Animals
Veracity
Praise and Blame
Employment of Time
Love of FLowers
Perseverance
Good-Nature
Patience under Censure
Mercy
Nobility of Skin
Order
Justice
Ancient Times
Volume II (1834)
The Storm
Uses of Animals to Man
Excellence and Excelling
Slavery
Swallows
Love of Home
Commerce
Fishes, and Friendly Counsels
War
Sense and Sensitiveness
Mushroom-Hunting
Selfishness
Affection for Inanimate Objects
Prudence
Flowers
Filial Affection
Sounds of the People
Volume III (1839)
The third volume is dedicated to "Lady Ponsonby". In the preface, the author describes his motive to interest children in "the East". The author describes including genuine folklore, writing: "As to the stories connected with Oriental superstitions, I have recorded them as I heard them".
Travels - The Howard children dream of traveling to foreign lands. Mr Howard begins by telling stories of his travels, including a visit to Russia
The Sheriff of Mekka - Mr Howard tells a religious discussion he had with a Turkish friend as a demonstration of the good in all peoples and how travel "destroys petty prejudices". Mr. Howard describes meeting the "Sheriff" (cf. Sharif) of the Holy City and their conversations.
The Nile - Mr Howard describes an 1837 visit to Egypt's Nile, witnessing a boat accident, crocodiles and a crocodile hunter.
Peris - Mr Howard tells the story of a tailor and a Peri that fell in love with the tailor. For three years the tailor and the Peri lived together, after which the Peri left to participate in a war amongst the Peri race. The Peri left him and died in the war, and the tailor vowed never to wed an earthly mortal.
The Prince of the Druses - Mr Howard describes the Druze people
Treatment of Animals in the East - describes the treatment of dogs and other animals, the eating of locusts, and the legend of the Wandering Jew.
Vampires - Mr Howard tells of the Vampire, resulting from "a dead body that... is exposed to the action of the sun's rays" for forty days. A vampire's mission is to "torment and alarm the living". He tells of the vampire hunters, who use a pointed stake through the heart to slay a vampire.
Mahomet Ali Pacha
Magicians
Infant Schools
Djezzar Pacha
Mahommedanism
Djins—Mr. Howard discusses the Djins or genii, which, like ghosts, haunt houses.
Sincerity with Prudence
Treasure-seeking in the Levant - Mr. Howard shares the tale of a treasure hunt. Finding a treasure, the treasure hunters use ropes and poles in an attempt to prevent the treasure from sinking into the earth. The attempt fails, the chest crashes into the earth, and a monstrous toad results in the treasure hunter being struck down with palsy.
Abu Abdallah
References
^Stephens, F.G.; Thackeray, W.M. (1891). A memoir of George Cruikshank. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington (limited). p. 137. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
^Stone, Gerald (2009) [2004]. "Bowring, Sir John (1792–1872)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3087. (subscription required)
^Tait, W.; Johnstone, C.I. (1834). Tait's Edinburgh Magazine. Vol. 1. W. Tait. p. 443. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
^Tait, W.; Johnstone, C.I. (1839). Tait's Edinburgh Magazine. Vol. 6. W. Tait. p. 615. Retrieved 2014-10-05.