Some of us study history, everyone that gets mentioned here was obviously involved in some historical events, but few saw and lived as much as Mother Jones. As a child she saw British soldiers march down the streets in her Irish homeland with Irish heads on their bayonet points. She saw Abraham Lincoln speak. She survived the great Chicago Fire. She saw the railroads cross the continent, and she rode in cars. Of course, she watched and then led some of the most dramatic changes in labor relations. As passion rose during a speech, her voice got low and intimate, and strikers were spellbound. She looked like a grandmother, and was called the Miners' Angel. "I'm not a humanitarian, I'm a hell-raiser." She saw incredible change in her century of active life.
While we're on the subject of unions, today marks the Act of Union that brought Scotland into the United Kingdom. Some Scots thought it was inevitable, others thought it unfair and the result of undue pressure, and it seems that more than a few still aren't too happy with it. How about a farcical union? Mozart's operatic production of the Marriage of Figaro debuted to gales of hysterical laughter in Viena. Or perhaps a durable union? The Hapsburg Dynasty was started by Rudolph, born on this day, and held together by his heirs for nearly 650 years.
1707 - Under threats of commercial isolation, Scotland enters into the Act of Union of 1707 with England and Wales, which had long been united. Britain, fearful that a Catholic might become King of Scotland, exerted pressure that was seen by some Scots as both threats and bribery. Twenty five articles were agreed to between November 1706 and January 1707 allowing independence for Scotland's legal and religious systems, while coinage, taxation, sovereignty, parliamentary organization, trade, and the flag were merged.
1786 - Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" (Marriage of Figaro) debuts after many intrigues. The story by Beaumarchais was banned due to political implications in the plot, but imperial permission was reluctantly granted. Audience response was so great that many numbers were repeated, one played three times. Emperor Joseph, a fan and patron, felt compelled to ban encores after the first several performances.
1869 - The Folies Bergere music hall, arguably the most famous, opens in Paris. "The nudest, naughtiest, most glamorous show on earth" in its heydey, it closed its doors on 20 December 1992.
Labor Day, Most of the World - The first of May has probably been the most popular day in history for worker-initiated strikes, which apparently suggested that organized labor gravitated toward celebrating this day as Labor Day. Why has 1 May been so popular for strikes? In the days before universal Visa cards, Springtime was a low-cost part of the year. Everyone is a bit more energetic. And workers were generally paid on the last day of the month, so just how little the pay envelope held was fresh in mind.
Law Day, US - Created in 1958 and fixed on this date in 1961, Law Day is organized by the various bar associations to build citizen awareness of the benefits of the rule of law in civilized life. The theme for 2000 is "Celebrate Your Freedom."
1218 - Rudolph of Hapsburg, German politician - In the late 13th century the role of the emperor of Europe vis-a-vis the Pope was in flux, and several kings contended for election. A strong ruler, Rudolph was also known as a skillful mediator and fair administrator. Chosen in 1271, he was not recognized by Rome until 1273. He was first of the Hapsburgs, a dynasty that continued, in some form, until World War I. Died July 1291.
1769 - Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, British soldier, politician - Born in Ireland, he sat in the Irish Parliament. Distinguished himself in army service in India, was knighted, was general of the allied armies in the Peninsula War that drove the French out of Spain, defeating Bonaparte at Quatre-Bras and again at Waterloo in 1815. Prime Minister 1828 - 30, later held cabinet posts under two governments, and was commander-in-chief intermittently from 1827, holding the post from 1842 to his death 14 September 1852.
1830 - Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, US labor leader - Born in Cork, Ireland to an Irish freedom fighter, the family fled and Mary was raised on Toronto, Ontario. Taught school, married a union ironmolder, lost him and four children to yellow fever in 1867, lost everything else in Chicago Fire of 1871, and became a union organizer. Inspiring speaker at rallies during strikes, a founder of the IWW (Wobblies) in 1905, came to prominence as a United Mine Worker organizer in Appalachian coal mines. Died 30 November 1930.
It is only by labor that thought can be made healthy, and only by thought
that labor can be made happy, and the two cannot be separated with impunity.
- John Ruskin
Each class preaches the importance of those virtues it need not exercise.
The rich harp on the value of thrift, the idle grow eloquent over the
dignity of labor.
- Oscar Wilde
Labor disgraces no man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who
disgrace labor.
- Ulysses S. Grant
Marriage should be a duet — when one sings, the other claps.
- Joe Murray
Bach gave us God's Word; Mozart gave us God's laughter; Beethoven gave
us God's fire. God gave us music that we might pray without words.
- From a German Opera House
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