In 1066 and All That, W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman's retelling of all of history, they discard all dates that aren't memorable. Obviously the antithesis of Twisted History, but it's a great volume for the smallest room in the house - where most of us won't remember dates anyway. But 1066, there's a date we remember. The year England had three kings, and the last of them landed on the beach on this day. He'll appear again in a couple of weeks when he defeats Harold.
We also have a law that allowed ministers to order divorces for couples of which they didn't approve, my favorite president banned flogging aboard US ships, and the Danish underground started smuggling Jews out of the country - they did an amazing job if the surviving statistics are accurate. And the hero of Kevin Costner's "Field of Dreams," Shoeless Joe Jackson, was indicted by a Chicago grand jury along with seven of his teammates and a very small number of the gamblers who were in on it. The hottest team in baseball was also the lowest paid; Jackson went home with $5,000 for his part in throwing the 1919 Series, more than his salary for the year. News of the fix was widespread enough to ruin the advantage the gamblers hoped for, but the press and the baseball leagues covered it up until the indictment. The players were acquitted, but only because of missing evidence.
It's the birthday of Confucius, one of the great teachers of all time, celebrated as a national holiday in both Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. I've chosen today's quotes from his writing.
I thank you for all the kind comments in yesterday's mail, most of you seem to understand the need to cut this back for a while. I will continue to work on ways to bring the full Twisted History experience back as soon as possible.
1066 - William, Duke of Normandy, lands on the southeast coast of England, the exact location generally given as Pevensey Bay although more recent archaeological analysis suggests Wilting Manor as the correct site. William was the named successor to King Edward the Confessor, but Harold, Earl of Wessex, had been crowned instead. William responded with some 7,000 Norman troops crossing the channel in several hundred small boats.
1704 - A statute was enacted by the Puritan-dominated colony of Maryland, giving ministers the right to impose divorce on "unholy couples."
1850 - President Millard Filmore signed the 1851 naval appropriations bill, ending flogging as a form of punishment aboard ships: "Provided, That flogging in the navy, and on board vessels of commerce, be, and the same time is hereby, abolished from and after the passage of this act."
1904 - A woman was arrested for smoking a cigarette in an open car on New York City's 5th Avenue. Two decades after the invention of the cigarette-rolling machine smoking was still limited to men.
1920 - A Chicago grand jury indicted eight members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team and several gamblers for throwing the 1919 World Series, charging them with "conspiring to defraud the public and injure the business of Charles Comiskey and the American League." The eight players, earning $4-6,000 per year each, agreed to throw the series for $80,000. Only one of the players got all the promised money, they were acquitted at trial, and all were banned from "organized ball" for life by newly appointed commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis.
1943 - Danish underground anti-Nazi activists began systematic smuggling of Jews to neutral Sweden. The Nazis started their attempts to round up the estimated 7,500 Jews in Denmark earlier in the month, only 467 were captured, mostly elderly, and sent to Theresienstadt in Bohemia-Moravia.
Confucius' Birthday, Taiwan and China - Commemorates the birth of the teacher Confucius in 551 BC, includes an ancient dawn ceremony of dances, costumes, music, and other rites. Also observed as Teachers' Day in Taiwan.
Balance is the perfect state of still water. Let that be our model. It remains quiet within and is not disturbed on the surface.
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
What is the sound of one hand clapping?
- Confucius, all today's quotes
Twisted History is sent daily, absolutely free, to our subscribers who understand that the events of the past centuries have shaped our lives today - and are probably less depressing than the events on today's TV news. Both an HTML version (which looks just like this) and a text version that is compatible with all mail clients are available.
Manage your subscription
Tell a friend
about Twisted History
Leave
Feedback
Copyright 2000 G. Armour Van Horn, all rights reserved. This document may be distributed freely. Please forward the complete message including this copyright notice.