History Schmistory: July 26. Mi Vidi Vi!

1887: Unua Libro  is published, detailing the language of Esperanto, Now spoken in over 100 countries. Who knew? …I sure didn’t.
By skanita en privata biblioteko de P.Fiŝo (Wikipedia/eo) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

By skanita en privata biblioteko de P.Fiŝo (Wikipedia/eo) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Fact: Esperanto was the brain child of Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof and was designed as a ‘universal language’ that would help foster global connections and communication. Unfortunately it was not the success Zamenhof had hoped. Today only 10,000, in the whole world, speak it fluently. Commiseration’s Dr. Z

History Schmistory: July 25. First in Flight.

1909: First flight across the English Channel, by Louis Bleriot. He got halfway there once before, but decided he couldn’t make it and flew back.
How you doin'? Louis Bleriot, See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

How you doin’?
Louis Bleriot, See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory: July 24. King Gaga.

1567: A one year old boy becomes King James VI of Scotland when his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, abdicates. He shares a round of milk with his subjects.

'James VI as a young boy', King James I of England and VI of Scotland by Arnold van Brounckhorst.jpg, Public Domain

‘James VI as a young boy’,
King James I of England and VI of Scotland by Arnold van Brounckhorst.jpg, Public Domain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun fact: Once he was all grown up James ruled both England and Scotland from 1603- 1625….. he was also fascinated by witches and the Daemonologie in 1599. Each to their own I guess!

History Schmistory: July 23. Speak now or forever hold your tongue.

1926 – Fox Film buys the patents of the Movietone sound system for recording sound onto film. Silent film actors remain unable to vocalize their concerns.
Chaplin_The_Kid_2_crop

History Schmistory: July 22. Vrrrroooooooommmm-put-put… -put.

1894: The first motorcar race is held in France. Local horses start a betting racket.

History Schmistory: July 21. Rough days ahead…

1542: The Roman Inquisition is established. Hold on to your heads! (and fingers and toes…)
Pope Paul V, by Caravaggio, public domain

Pope Paul V, by Caravaggio, public domain

Fun Fact: The inquisition’s most famous defendant is probably Galileo Galilei (the telescope guy!) He was hauled before the inquisition in 1633 on charges that his scientific findings denied the existence of God. Despite protestations he was found guilty of heresy.

History Schmistory: July 20. Danger! Pun Crossing.

1514: The rebellion of Hungarian peasants under George Dozsa is defeated at the Siege of Temesvar. They weren’t Hungary enough, I guess.
Costumes of Peasants from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Germany,  from 'Esquisses de la Vie Populaire en Hongroie' by Gabriel de Pronay, 1855 (colour litho); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France [public domain]

Costumes of Peasants from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Germany, from ‘Esquisses de la Vie Populaire en Hongroie’ by Gabriel de Pronay, 1855 (colour litho); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France [public domain]

History Schmistory, July 20: Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

1858 – The first ever fee was charged to see a baseball game at the steep price of 50 cents per person. Sure had to break the piggy bank for Babe!

 

Gotta' pay those nickels to see them knuckles! 'Babe Ruth in 1921,' [public domain]

Gotta’ pay those nickels to see them knuckles!
‘Babe Ruth in 1921,’ [public domain]

History Schmistory: July 19. CAN anybody open this thing?

1870: The can opener is patented by William Lyman, a good fifty years after the tin can was invented. Luckily all the contents were well preserved.

By Tomomarusan (This is the creation of Tomomarusan) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Tomomarusan (This is the creation of Tomomarusan) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

History Schmistory July 19: 9 Days of Grey

1553 – 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey was deposed as England’s Queen after only 9 days. It’s important to note that little Lady Grey was only 15 when she qualified for the crown. Jeeze, some kids just can’t handle all that responsibility–it’s only governing over one little country!

She traded ruling the courtyard to ruling to courtroom! For a couple days at least…

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