Thursday

May 29, 1997

Island

by W. S. Merwin

THURSDAY 5/29

Today's Reading: "Island" by W.S. Merwin from FLOWER & HAND, published by Copper Canyon Press. --It's a day observed in England as Oak-Apple Day, commemorating the return of Charles Stuart from exile in the year 1660. --The month-long Portland Rose festival begins today in Portland, Oregon.

It's the anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, made by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.

It's the birthday of the 35th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, born in Brookline, Massachusetts, in this day in 1917.

The premier in Paris in 1913 of a new production Serge Diaghilev's ballet LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS (THE RITE OF SPRING) caused riots in the theater.

It's the birthday of British writer T.H. White, author of the children's book about the boy who would become King Arthur, THE SWORD IN THE STONE (1938). He was born in Bombay in 1906.

It's the birthday of comedian and actor Bob Hope, born in Eltham, England, in 1903. He was four when his family moved to the United States and settled in Cleveland.

It's the birthday of comic actress Bea Lillie, born in Toronto on this day in 1894.

Film director Josef von Sternberg, who discovered Marlene Dietrich and gave her a starring role in his film BLUE ANGEL, was born on this day in Vienna, 1894.

It's the birthday of the English writer G.K. Chesterton, creator of Roman Catholic priest and sleuth Father Brown. He was born in London on this day in 1874.

American revolutionary hero and orator, Patrick Henry, was born in Hanover County, Virginia, on this day in 1736.

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®

 

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