Sunday

Jan. 31, 1999

Not Only the Eskimos

by Lisel Mueller

SUNDAY 1/31

Poem: Liesel Mueller, "Not Only the Eskimos," from Alive Together (Louisiana State University Press)

It was on this day in 1943 that the siege of STALINGRAD was ended with the surrender of the Germans—a battle which saw some of the worst fighting of World War II and which was a turning point in the defeat of Hitler. About 800,00 Germans and their allies, and over 1,000,000 Soviet soldiers, were killed in the battle.

It's the birthday in 1872 of the novelist ZANE GREY, born Pearl Grey in Zanesville, Ohio, the writer of over 80 Western novels.

It's the birthday of composer FRANZ SCHUBERT, born 1797 near Vienna, a composer who bridged the Classical and Romantic periods in the early 1800s and who is most known for his songs known as "Lieder," especially his song cycles "The Miller's Beautiful Daughter," (1823) and "Winter Journey" (1827).

It's the birthday in 1769 of the parachute pioneer ANDRÉ-JACQUES GARNERIN, born in Paris, the first person to use a parachute successfully. He made his first jump from a balloon in Paris in 1797, jumping from about 3,200 feet up.

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

 

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