Monday
Apr. 10, 2000
Hotel Nights with My Mother
Poem: "Hotel Nights with My Mother," by Linda McCarriston, from Eva-Mary (Tri-Quarterly Books, Northwestern University Press).
It's the birthday of novelist and travel writer PAUL THEROUX, born in Medford, Massachusetts (1941). The third of seven children, Paul and his two older brothers wrote competing family newspapers. His book, The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia (1975), was a rarity for the American market: a travel book that became a best- seller. It was followed by The Old Patagonian Express (1979), recounting a cross-cultural odysseyagain, mostly by trainfrom the northeastern United States down through Mexico and Central America to the tip of Argentina. Paul Theroux wrote, " Extensive traveling induces a feeling of encapsulationand travel, so broadening at first, contracts the mind."
It's the birthday of historian DAVID HALBERSTAM, born in New York City (1934). He's the author of The Best and the Brightest (1972), about America's involvement in the Viet Nam War, and The Powers That Be (1979) about the American media. His most recent book is Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made (1999).
On this day in 1912, the ocean liner TITANIC left Southampton on its maiden voyage, bound for New York. Five days later the "unsinkable" luxury ship struck an iceberg and sank, with a loss of more than 1500 of the 2,224 passengers and crew members aboard.
It's the birthday of journalist, playwright and politician CLARE BOOTH LUCE, born in New York City (1903). She joined the staff of Vanity Fair, and became a popular playwright.
It's the birthday of labor reformer FRANCES PERKINS, born in Boston (1880). She was Franklin Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor for the entire 13 years of his administration.
It's the birthday of JOSEPH PULITZER, who was born in Mako, Hungary (1847). He came to America when he was 18, and within ten years he had such command of English that he was a noted speechmaker across the Midwest. He bought the St. Louis Dispatch, and later the New York World. His will left Columbia University $2,000,000 to found a school of journalism, and to start the Pulitzer Prizes.
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®