An interesting historical story.
Demosthenes was once giving a speech before the Athenian assembly, but his opposition was booing and hissing to drown him out. He suddenly stopped and when the crowd quieted down, he asked them if they wanted to hear a story. Once upon a time, there was a man who needed Read more…
This story is probably apocryphal, but its cute. One day a youth came to Rome and the crowds quickly noticed he looked just like the Emperor Augustus when he was the same age. Word reached the palace and Augustus was intrigued so he had some guards bring the kid Read more…
This is the fourth in our series of Gilded Age classroom pictures. This one is of a cooking class.
The picture is of a gym class in a 1900 school, but let’s look at some facts about punishment in a Gilded Age school. A typical school philosophy was “Speak the truth, be honest, be punctual, be clean and kind.” Showing respect was also highly emphasized. Here is a list Read more…
A typical day in a Gilded Age one room classroom. Boys and girls enter the classroom single file, youngest to oldest. Girls enter first, curtsying to the teacher. Boys would bow. Hang your coat on the hook. Put your lunch pail on the shelf. You sat according to academic ability, Read more…
During his Illyrian campaign, Alexander faced a tough mountain people called the Taulantians. They held the high ground and would be very difficult to dislodge. Alexander had to figure out a way to draw them out into the open where his army’s superior discipline would be an advantage. He decided Read more…
Shouldn’t you know what you are celebrating? Before you say you are celebrating Mexican independence, you’re wrong. You are celebrating one of the rare victories of the Mexican army. S(orry to be blunt, but it’s the truth.) In early 1862, French Emperor Napoleon decided to take advantage of the American Read more…
Before the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal and his generals looked across the battlefield at the huge Roman army they would soon be facing. One of his generals, named Gisgo, voiced his concern about how many Romans there were. Hannibal responded in a loud voice: “You are right, Gisgo. The Read more…
In the Middle Ages, “benefit of clergy” referred to the ability of clergy members to avoid conviction for crimes. This benefit was later extended to cover anyone who could read a verse from the Bible. It was usually the first verse from the 51st Psalm. “Have mercy upon me, Oh Read more…
The phrase “the shot heard ‘round the world” comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem “Concord Hymn” from 1837. “One if by land and two if by sea” comes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” from 1861. The British could have marched across the neck of Boston (by land) or Read more…