1815 President James Madison assented to an act of Congress which appropriated $23,950 to purchase Thomas Jefferson’s library of 6,487 volumes. The original collection had perished when the British burned Washington. Jefferson’s collection would later burn in an accidental fire. Jefferson reluctantly sold the books to finance his retirement. My experiences at this temple of knowledge are discussed in posts on this blog. Have a look.
1873 Jules Verne published ‘Around the World in Eighty Days.’ Read that and been to some of the places on the route.
1933 With the stirring notes of the William Tell Overture and a shout of “Hi-yo, Silver! Away!” The Lone Ranger started on Detroit’s radio WXYZ radio. It was the creation of station-owner George Trendle and writer Fran Striker. They were inspired by Zorro comic books. John Reid, modest, soft spoken, just, clean-living, speaking in grammatically correct and complete sentences, respectful to women, mocked no one, kindly to children, and helpful of the weak. No future for anyone like that in President Tiny’s world.
1958 House of Lords rescinded the Sex Disqualification Act which had barred women peers from its seats. A few women had won election to the House of Commons since the 1920s. Sociologist Barbara Wootton, Baroness Wootton of Abinger, was the first woman to be appointed a Life Peer. The clipping below makes light of the exclusion of women. So little changes with journalism.
1975 Ernő Rubik applied to patent a “Magic Cube,” aka ‘Rubik’s Cube.’ He had devised a number of games and puzzles to attract youngsters to mathematics, science, and engineering. It was a good way to waste time before the smart phone filled that niche.
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