Certain Personal Matters - For Freedom of Spelling

Certain Personal Matters - The Extinction of Man

In which the author contemplates the fragile tenure of mankind upon the earth, drawing comparisons with extinct dominant species of the past and considering the vast, untamed domains—such as the sea—that elude human control. He posits the possibility that future competitors, whether monstrous crustaceans, formidable cephalopods, or swarming ants, alongside unseen diseases, might one day challenge humanity’s supremacy, admonishing against complacency in the face of such prospects.

Certain Personal Matters - Of a Book Unwritten

In which a scholarly meditation contemplates the vast unwritten volumes of human evolution and destiny, envisioning future men with diminished bodies, enlarged brains, and altered physiologies adapted to wit and machinery rather than physical toil. This sober and speculative forecast, drawn from contemporary scientific thought, traces a path from present-day habits to a final, solitary existence where humanity survives as great intelligences beneath a frozen earth, highlighting the subtle transformation of man’s physical and spiritual nature over the slow passage of ages.

Certain Personal Matters - For Freedom of Spelling

In which the author reflects upon the curious rigidity of English orthography, musing on its origins, social significance, and the curious moral weight it has acquired, while proposing that spelling might be better regarded as an art subject to the whims of personal tenderness and expression. He gently advocates for a liberating freedom in spelling, encouraging a playful and affectionate approach that could enrich language if only it dared to escape the strict conventions imposed by tradition and printers.

Certain Personal Matters - Incidental Thoughts on a Bald Head

In which the narrator attends a peculiar Sunday meeting advocating temperance and hygiene, observing the assembled company of sceptics and reflecting on the curious prevalence of bald heads among them. This prompts a contemplative rumination on the evolutionary mystery of hair loss in humans, pondering the interplay of natural selection, vanity, diet, and the gradual diminution of the human form.

Certain Personal Matters - Euphemia’s New Entertainment

In which Euphemia devises a novel post-dinner amusement of modelling with clay, intended to warm even the most reserved of company through a gentle, absorbing creativity that contrasts favourably with the usual evening pastimes of music or games. The narrative observes with quiet amusement how this new venture reveals unexpected artistic passions and a shared humble delight in the shaping of formless clay into playful, if imperfect, creations.