Bits and Pieces

One of my baby sister's orchids in her Virginia home

 

As my regular readers know from previous entries on this blog, I have eclectic interests.  Much of my curiosity is temporarily satisfied by browsing various articles found on the Internet, where I glean bits and pieces concerning things that interest me at the moment.


I already knew, for example, that today, February 12, was the birthday of Abraham Lincoln.  This historical fact was reinforced by my morning visit to fellow blogger Bob Brague's blog -- rhymeswithplague.  As I have an inquiring mind, I was quite sure that there were other historical items of note that share this date with the commemoration of the birth of "Honest Abe."


Following are a few of the many things I discovered  (links provided, should you wish to investigate on your own):


1924 - George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" premiers at Carnegie Hall.   A YouTube video is embedded below, should you care to listen.

 1915 - The cornerstone is laid for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.


1908 - A New York to Paris auto race (via Alaska and Siberia) begins in New York City.  Does anyone else remember the 1965 film "The Great Race" starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Natalie Wood?  I still think this is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.

1879- The first artificial ice rink in North America opens at Madison Square Garden, New York City


1594 - Lady Jane Grey was beheaded after being charged with treason. She had claimed the throne of  England for only nine days.


1773 - Savannah, Georgia (USA) was founded by English colonist James Oglethorpe.


1809 - Abraham Lincoln (16th president of the United States) is born.  Note: I read with interest that Abe's family was more well-to-do than we thought.


1809 - Charles Darwin, English naturalist and author of On The Origin of Species, among other controversial scientific works, is born.  There is much fascinating information about Mr. Darwin here.


1892 - Abraham Lincoln's birthday was declared to be a national holiday in the United States. (This holiday is no longer observed on this day.  The commemoration of his birth has been combined with that of George Washington, whose birthday is February 22,  and is now observed as Presidents Day on the third Monday in February.)


1940 - The Mutual Broadcasting System presented the first broadcast of the radio play "The Adventures of Superman."

I shall now be "up, up and away!"  (Who said that?)

 Tomorrow is also a day.