Thursday

Apr. 16, 1998

Spring and All

by William Carlos Williams

THURSDAY 4/16

Today's Reading: "Spring and All" by William Carlos Williams from COLLECTED POEMS 1909-1939, published by New Directions.

It's the birthday today of English novelist Kingsley Amis, best known for his first novel, LUCKY JIM, born in London on this day in 1922.

It's the birthday of dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham in Centralia, Washington, in 1919.

It's the birthday of actor, director and producer Charlie Chaplin who began his stage career at the age of five. He was born in south London on this day in 1889.

Irish playwright John Millington Synge (RIDERS TO THE SEA; THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD) was born on this day near Dublin in 1871.

It's the birthday of English metallurgist Thomas Sidney Gilchrist, who developed a method for removing phosphorus impurities from iron ore so it could be used to make steel. He was born in London on this day in 1850.

Writer Anatole France (LE CRIME DE SYLVESTRE BONNARD) was born on this day in Paris, in 1844.

It's the birthday in London in 1800 of George Charles Bingham, who commanded the famous Light Brigade in its famous fatal charge.

Scottish chemist Joseph Black, whose dissertation laid the foundation for modern quantitative chemistry, was born in Bordeaux, France, on this day in 1682.

It's the birthday of physician and naturalist Hans Sloane, who worked to make medical prescriptions based on medicinal herbs rather than superstitions, was born on this day in Killyleagh, Ireland, in 1660.

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

 

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