Wednesday

May 5, 1999

A Curious Fellow Named Kurt

by Michael Palin

A Highly-Strung Lady Called Weems

by Michael Palin

There Once Was a Fellow Called God

by Michael Palin

There Was a Young Fellow Called Ben

by Michael Palin

Broadcast Date: WEDNESDAY: May 5, 1999

Poems: "A highly-strung lady called Weems," "A gravedigger's helper called Maddox," "There was a young fellow called Ben," "There once was a fellow called God," and "A curious fellow named Kurt," limericks by Michael Palin, from Limericks (Red Fox, a division of Random House UK).

It was on this day in 1864 that the Confederate army under Robert E. Lee met for the first time the Union army commanded by Ulysses S. Grant, in the BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War—over 30,000 men were lost in the two-day battle in an area known as the Wilderness, just west of Fredericksburg, a big, nearly impassable stretch of brambles, swamp, and timber.

It is CINCO DE MAYO, the anniversary of the 1862 Battle of Puebla, when the Mexican army defeated an army of French invaders. A national holiday in Mexico.

CARNEGIE HALL opened on this day in 1891, at Seventh Avenue and 57th Street in New York, named for Andrew Carnegie who built it and was its first owner.

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

 

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  • “Writers end up writing stories—or rather, stories' shadows—and they're grateful if they can, but it is not enough. Nothing the writer can do is ever enough” —Joy Williams
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