Keystone, South Dakota – Home of Mount Rushmore

Unlike previous posts where two or three crossword clues are defined – today’s Sunday puzzle is the theme of Mount Rushmore – a topic worthy of solo treatment.  Most of us can envision what Mount Rushmore looks like.  Some of us have been to it – in fact over three million people visit it each year, which is quite a feat considering how far one travels to see it even in the state of South Dakota.Mountrushmore

Today I learned that Mount Rushmore was named for New York lawyer Charles E. Rushmore, who visited the area in 1884 to look at mining prospects.  When he asked a local the name of the mountain and was told that it had no name but would be known as Rushmore from then on.

Doane Robinson, a South Dakota historian, wanted to attract more visitors to his state.  He envisioned sculptures of “The Needles” – several granite pillars in the likenesses of heroes of the old West.  He approached Gutzon Borglum, an American sculptor who was already busy working on a Robert E. Lee sculpture at Stone Mountain.  As it turned out, Borglum and the group that commissioned him, had a fallout out, so he was available for Robinson’s project.

Borglum’s initial idea was to have George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as he thought they had broader appeal.  Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt were added later because of their contributions to democracy and conservation.  In 1925, he picked out Mount Rushmore as the site and work began in 1927, although not without protests from Native Americans and environmentalists.  Nonetheless, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the site in 1927 – work began in earnest in October of that year.

While the initial plans included busts of all four Presidents, there wasn’t enough funding for this, so heads it was!  Over 400 people worked on the sitGutzon_Borglum's_model_of_Mt._Rushmore_memoriale, using fairly new techniques of dynamite and pneumatic hammers.  Even though the work was very dangerous, no lives were lost in the creation of this massive memorial.

In 1930, the head of Washington was dedicated.  Jefferson’s head was to be to the right of Washington, but the stone was found t1024px-Mount_Rushmore2o be too weak, so his sculpture was moved to the left.  Lincoln’s head was dedicated in 1937, and Theodore Roosevelt’s head in 1939.  Gutzon Borglum died in March 1941, so his son, Lincoln finished the final details for the grand ceremony held in October of that same year.

Today, the faces of Mount Rushmore are one of the most recognized images in the United States.  Despite what some believe, in the movie, North by Northwest, Hitchcock was not allowed to film on Mount Rushmore, so he had a large-scale model of the sculpture built in Hollywood to film the famous scenes from that movie.

Big stones, Truth and light, Let’s eat!

Like Stonehenge

While there are many examples worldwide, Stonehenge is probably one of the best known examples of megalith architecture.  The word, megalith, is from the Greek and means quite simply, “big stone”.  The megaliths were often designed as a form of grave stone or a portal tomb.  In contrast to these uses, Stonehenge is believed to have astronomical alignments, although there have been cremated remains found at the site.  Its formation, the stone circle, is only one of the kinds of megaliths that exist.

Megal360px-Stonehenge-Greeniths are found throughout the world including the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.  Dolmens which are portal tombs, usually with two standing stones and a covering are prevalent in the Middle East with a large concentration found in the Jordan Rift valley.

In Europe, the portal tomb, the passage grave and the gallery graves are the most common types seen.  Britain and Ireland have more of the  stone circles which are thought to have associations with astronomy.  Stonehenge is known for its alignment with the solstice.

One adopting the motto “Lux et veritas

This answer refers to Yale University with its response, Eli.  HowLuxetveritasever, there is more than one university which has adopted the motto, Lux et veritas.  We shall begin with the oldest – that being Yale which started as a school for Christian ministers.  Its seal includes Hebrew characters, Urim and Thummim which were used to elicit truth and light in Old Testament times.

Indiana University – the meaning behind its motto was proposed by one of its university presidents who said that the diplomas of its graduates would carry “Light and Truth”.

Marietta College – The school in Ohio has its seal as part of the brick sidewalk.  Legend has it that if you step on the seal, it will add an additional year to the time it takes the person to graduate.

Chowan Univeristy – in Murfreesboro, North Carolina adopted the motto rather late in 1913 – some believe the motto was adopted after it changed from Chowan Baptist Female Institute to Chowan College.

Eatery known for its famous celebrity caricatures

Located in Manhattan, Sardis, is a restaurant that is famous for the numerous caricatures on its walls.  After moving the restaurant in 1927, the owner, Vincent Sardi, looked for a way to lure more customers to his new site.  He sought Alex Gard to draw caricatures of Broadway celebrities.  In exchange for a meal per day, he drew one portrait per day.  This deal outlasted Vincent Sardi himself as his son tried to change the terms, but Gard refused and continued to draw the caricature/meal deal.Sardisbook

While Gard died in 1948, others have taken over the helm as the artist.  When Jimmy Cagney died, his caricature was stolen.  Since that time, the originals are kept in a vault and copies adorn the walls.

In addition to the famous caricatures, Sardis is also the birthplace of the Tony award.  Antoinette Perry’s partner was mourning her death at Sardis and there conceived the idea of an award in her honor.  For years afterward, the Tony nominations were announced at Sardis.  Vincent Sardi, Sr, received a special Tony in 1947 (the first year they were awarded).

Disillusionment, endless quest, and “Slammin’ Sammy”!

“Eyeless in Gaza” novelist, 1936

Written after the success of Brave New World, Aldous Huxley wrote what is considered to be his most personal work.  The title, Eyeless in Gaza, stems from a work by John Milton about the life of Samson who was blinded and then forced to work for the Philistines by grinding grain in a mill

… Promise was that I

Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver;

Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him

Eyeless in Gaza at the Mill with slaves …

The book by Huxley chronicles the life of Anthony Beavis in a haphaEyeless in Gazazard fashion with no chronology.  Beavis is a socialite who is disillusioned by the after effects of World War I and seeks fulfillment through love affairs and adventures.  After these prove fruitless, he joins forces with a Marxist revolutionary, but when their violent efforts nearly kill them both, he embarks on yet another quest for meaning.

Poe poem that begins “Gaily bedlight,/ A gallant knight”

Much like Huxley’s novel above, some consider this poem of Edgar Allan Poe to be somewhat autobiographical.  It was one of his last poems, and the quest foEdgar_Allan_Poe_daguerreotype_cropr Eldorado which has gone on for centuries was seen to be symbolic of Poe’s own quest for happiness in his own life which had eluded him.

Eldorado

Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old—
This knight so bold—
And o’er his heart a shadow—
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow—
‘Shadow,’ said he,
‘Where can it be—
This land of Eldorado?’

‘Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,’
The shade replied,—
‘If you seek for Eldorado!’

Three-time P. G. A. Championship winner

You don’t have to know much about golf to have heard about Sam Snead, the answer to this clue.  He was an American professional golfer with a record win of 82 PGA tour events.  While he never won the U. S. Open, he was runner-up four times.

Known for his nearly perfect swing, which has been copied by countless individuals, he was also known for his down-home manner and dress, wearing a straw hat when playing and even playing barefoot.

Born iSam_Snead_1967n Ashwood, Virginia, he got his early beginning in golf by caddying at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia.  By 1944, he became the head pro at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  He maintained close ties to both places throughout his life.

During his main playing years, he was known as an exceptionally long driver with accuracy to match.  His controversial croquet-style of putting was eventually banned in 1968.  In 1983 at age 71, he shot a round of 60 – an amazing 12 under par – at the Homestead in Virginia.  He held the record for most PGA wins after age 40 until it was broken only recently by Vijay Singh.

He died in 2002 a few days short of his ninetieth birthday.  His wife of fifty years had preceded him in death.  He was survived by his two sons.  Of note, his nephew, J. C. Snead, was also a P. G. A. Tour golfer.

Bundles, lithos, and Irish renaissance

Part of a fasces

Now, it would probably be easy to answer this one if you knew was a fasces was – otherwise, it might be a real head-scratcher.   For all you Latin fans, fasces is the plural of fascis, meaning “bundle”.   A fasces is a bound bundle of rods and occasionally includes a blade. So, part of a fasces is a rod.  You knew that Latin would come back to haunt you, didn’t you?

But wait, there’s more!  The fasces has its origins in Etruscan civilization – where it symbolized the power of the magistrate.  Many believe that the group of rods reNational_Guard_Bureau_(insignia).svgpresents strength through unity.  The symbol was used in the Roman empire and has been used ever since in various governments and groups.

Today, you can see fasces all over the place – the Oval Office, the United States Senate, the House of Representatives, Coit Tower,  and the National Guard Bureau insignia which appears at right.  There are numerous other examples as well.

James Merritt _____, pioneering lithographer

James Merritt Ives(March 5, 1824 – January 3, 1895) was an American lithographer, and businessman. With his partner, Nathaniel Currier, he managed the financial side of their successful firm, Currier and Ives.  Of interest is the fact that Ives had no formal art education, garnering his knowledge through study and visiting the Astor library and art galleries.

Untitled, 12/11/03, 2:53 PM, 16C, 3450x4776 (600+0), 100%, AIA repro tone,  1/50 s, R58.9, G46.8, B59.3

His wife, Caroline Clark, was the sister-in-law of Charles Currier (brother of Nathaniel).  The two were introduced, and to his credit, Nathaniel Currier recognized the business acumen in the younger Ives and soon made him the manager of his lithograph company and subsequently, partner.

The two were extremely successful in their production of lithographs – many were black and white drawings – the colored prints were done in house or contracted out to individuals.  They also sold the black and white drawings with instructions on how best to complete them.  The firm was managed by their sons after their deaths until it was liquidated in 1907.

Novelist O’Flaherty

Liam O’Flaherty, (August 28, 1896—died September 7, 1984), Irish novelist and short-story writer, considered to be a leading figure of the Irish Renaissance.

O’Flaherty abandoned his training for the priesthood and embarked on a varied career as a soldier in World War I and traveled widely in South America, Canada, the United States, and the Middle East. Working in various occupations such as lumberjack, porter, miner, factory worker, dishwasher, bank clerk, and deckhand, he tried his hand in numerous fields.

After his part during the revolution in Ireland, O’Flaherty later settled in England in returning to Dublin in the mid-1920s. Among his books were Thy Neighbour’s Wife , a successful first novel; The Black Soul , The Informer later adapted by John Ford into an Oscar-winning film by John Ford,  Skerrett, and,  Famine  a story of the effect of the Irish famine of the 1840s on the individuals of a small community; Short Stories , Insurrection a novel about the Easter Rising of 1916; The Pedlar’s Revenge and Other Stories  -as well as several other works. His autobiography, Shame the Devil, was published in 1934.

Ancient Egypt, Reach for the stars, and opera!

Abu Simbel’s waterway

Now the answer for this one is a bit of semantics.  Abu Simbel is a village in Nubia in southern Egypt, near the border of Sudan.  It is situated on Lake Nasser which was formed when the Aswan Dam was built on the Nile – today’s answer to the clue.  The Abu Simbel temples are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site known as the Nubian Temples.

What is intriguing is the fact that these temples were relocated in their entirety in 1968 prior to the construction of the Aswan dam.  It was determined that they would have been underwater after the creation of Lake Nasser.  From 1964 to 1968, the temples were painstakingly dismantled and reassembled sixty meters higher.

The two temples were originally built in the 13th century B.C. by Pharaoh Ramesses II as a monument to himself and his queen, Nefertari to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh.

356px-RamsesIIEgypt

The larger temple was dedicated to the gods was dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, and of course, to Ramesses as he was also considered to be a god.  It is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples in Egypt.

The smaller temple, the temple of Hathor and Nefertari, also  was built northeast of the larger temple andwas dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Ramesses II’s chief consort, Nefertari. This was in fact the second time in ancient Egyptian history that a temple was dedicated to a queen. Previously, Akhenaten dedicated a temple to his great royal wife, Nefertiti

“Per ardua ad _____”

The Royal Air Force adopted the motto, per ardua ad astra, or “through struggles to the stars”.  The story goes that Colonel Frederick Sykes, the Commanding Officer of the Royal Flying Corps had asked his men to create a motto for their service – one that would inspire the troops.  While walking back after mess, Lieutenant Yule mused about a passage he had read which had the phrase, Sicictar ad Astra, from which he adapted, Per ardua ad astra.58B68C5E_1143_EC82_2E7AB2D38AFEF916

As with many legends, the stories vary – some say he read in a text by Virgil; others say he read it in a book by Rider Haggard.  In any case, Sykes liked the motto and submitted it to the War Office who then submitted it to the King, who approved it.  Despite the fact that both ardua and astra have multiple meanings, for the Royal Air Force and others, it is translated, “through adversity to the stars.”

 

Opera that premiered in Rome in 1900

Torture, murder, suicide and singing?  Welcome to the world of opera, or in this case, Tosca, the answer to the above clue.  Written by Giacomo Puccini, Tosca has become one of the most frequently performed operas in history.

It was based on a play by Victorien Sardou, an extremely successful playwright in his day, although his plays are seldom performed today.  Sardou collaborated with Sarah Bernhardt – yes, that Sarah Bernhardt.  His play, La Tosca, featured her in the starring 800px-Tosca_libretto_coverrole, and the play enjoyed much success throughout Europe.  Puccini saw the play twice and approached Sardou about making the play into an opera.  The negotiations were contentious, and it was some time before Puccini finally had his way and commenced work on the opera.

Tosca is set in Rome in 1800 when Napoleon and his army are advancing.  Angelotti, a Roman consul and now, an escaped political prisoner, seeks refuge in the chapel of Sant’Andrea della Valle.  Carvadossi, a painter (and lover of Tosca) is also an old friend of Angelotti.  Baron Scarpia, the head of the police is after Angelotti and manipulates Tosca and others in his pursuit.  The Sacristan is the bumbling priest who gets things wrong at the very beginning.  And, of course, there’s Tosca, the soprano and diva whose jealousy proves to be the undoing of nearly everyone.

 

 

 

Wooden coasters, wax figures, Prime Minister!

New York city with an amusement park that’s a National Historic Landmark

Rye, the city, New York, is a city in Westchester County, New York.  It is separate from the town of Rye, New York.  Rye the city was originally Rye the village until it was given its charter in 1942.  Huh?

Now for the easy part – in Rye, the city (got it?) is an amusement park called Playland.  Interestingly, it is an amusement park run by Westchester County – one of the very few in the United States.  It was started in 1927 under the direction of Frank Darling who had previous experience with Coney Island. Dragon-Coaster

Its most famous ride is the Dragon coaster which was unveiled in 1929.  The logo for Playland features the coaster, which is one of the few remaining wooden coasters in the U.S.  It has over 3000 feet of track and its tunnel is the body of a dragon which has eyes that light up and bellows smoke from its nostrils.

Playland has been featured in several movies and television episodes including The Muppets Take Manhattan, Big, Fatal Attraction, Mad Men, and How I Met Your Mother.

Medium for Madame Tussaud

Madame Tussauds, a wax musuem, is a major attraction in London as well as many branches in other cities.  Marie (nee Grosholtz) Tussaud was born in Strasbourg, France.  Her mother was a housekeeper for Dr. Philippe Curtius, a physician, who taught young Marie the art of wax modeling.

In 1777, she created her first sculpture, Voltaire.  Other well-known figures of the day that she sculpted were Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin.  Keeping busy even during the French Revolution, she became famous for her death masks.  After the death of Dr. Curtius, she inherited his wax collection and began touring Europe.  After marrying Francois Tussaud, the show was renamed, Madame Tussaud’s.  CharlesandCamila

She received an invitation to come to London and worked there for a while with Philidor and then began to tour Great Britain as the political climate in France with the rise of Napoleon was not considered advantageous for her.  Eventually she returned to London and settled in Baker Street.

Today Madame Tussauds has branches worldwide, with the most recent one opening this year in Seoul.

1990s Indian P.M.

The tenth Prime Minister of India, Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao, served as the head of state from 1991 – 1996.  His rise to that position was considered significant as he was the first from the non-Hindi speaking southern India.  His administration was also significant for his economic reforms, with the dismantling of the Licence Raj, which halted the socialist policies instituted by Rajiv Gandhi.  Also, unlike Nehru, he favored a market-driven economy.  During his reign, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a right-wing party, gained strength over the Indian National Congress which had enjoyed prominence since the early days of independence.pvn

In addition to his knowledge of the law and politics, he held a variety of interests including literature and computer programming.  His knowledge of Sanskrit was vast, and he spoke seventeen languages.

All Things French! – June 29, 2015

French city historically known for its silk

This one took me back to the history books because, these days, Lyon, is a city better known for its gastronomy.  We must go all the way back to Louis XI in 1466 who set up a silk manufacturer in Lyon.  Later on, Francois I, granted the silk monopoly to the city of Lyon.  After 1540, all silk coming to France or Italy passed through the city of Lyon and its warehouses.

As a result, the silk industry thrived in France for over a century until Henri IV and his A.-C.-Canova-Carre-de-soie_banniere1 infamous  revocation of the Edict of Nantes.  For those who do not recall, the annulment of the Edict of Nantes was implemented by Henry IV, a Catholic, to restore France to its Catholic prominence.  Bad news if you were a Protestant (in other words, a Huguenot).  Many of the Huguenots were experts in the textile industry, and they now fled to other countries taking their knowledge and techniques elsewhere.

It wasn’t until the years prior to the reign of Louis XVI that the silk industry picked up – to decorate the King’s apartments.  The designer, Lacroix, created the royal design school.  Things were progressing well until the French Revolution when many were guillotined or shot – definitely putting a crimp in the industry – one source states that almost 90% of the silk workers were either killed or fled the country.

It took the arrival of Napoleon and Josephine to revitalize the industry, and the 19th century saw the silk industry reach its peak.

________ l’œil (literally, “deceives the eye”)

Personally, I find trompe-l’œil, paintings endlessly fascinating.  While the artwork most often seen with perspectival illusionism is associated with the Baroque period, its true beginnings go back much farther  to Greek and Roman times where such drawings and murals were seen.  Even the ruins of Pompeii show the trompe-l’œil murals.arches

It was during the Renaissance when the understanding of perspective drawing took off, that painters of the Quattrocento such as Andrea Mantegna and Melozzi di Forli created illusionist ceiling paintings.  Their works were done primarily in fresco and used the technique of foreshortening.

800px-Andrea_Pozzo_-_Apoteose_de_Santo_InacioJesuit churches during the Baroque period used the ceiling effect to great use with the “opening” created illustrated the heavens or Jesus and other saints ascending.  A truly amazing example is the dome in Vienna created by Andrea Pozzo.

In addition to artwork seen in galleries and churches, the trompe-l’œil has been employed a great deal in the stage and theater design – again to create the illusion of more space.  It has also been employed in film with one of the more famous being Donald O’Connor in Singin’ in the Rain in his “Running up the wall” scene.

Brawl

OK, I know this was a bit of a stretch to include this in the French category, but the other two were perfect, so I found a word that had its origins in French:  melee.    I assume that most who are reading this already know the definition, but for those who don’t and for those who want a review, here goes:  a confused hand-to-hand fight among several people, or confusion, turmoil or jumble.  This last part is also thought to have given rise to the word, medley.  Of course, when the French spell it, they use accents and make it look so much more presentable:  mêlée.

Now you may ask, why is there a picture of diamonds with this definition?  I’m glad you O_E_melee_diamondasked!  For those wishing to stump someone in a definition, melee is also the name of a group of diamonds each weighing less than 0.25 carat.  How’s that for adding to your already voluminous knowledge?  Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls as they used to say on Laugh-In!

 

 

Muses, Empiricism and O Canada! – June 28, 2015

Sister of Clio

One would hope that with all the time I have spent doing crosswords that I would have all those Greek Muses down pat.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.  I was fortunate with this clue, that it only had five letters, and I was able to come up the correct answer, Erato.

So who were the Muses and why should we care?  Well, they were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory.  These daughters were the goddesses that ruled over the arts and sciences and offered inspiration to those pursuing those subjects.  Since there were no books, they had to rely on their muses.Erato

The Nine Muses were:

  1. Calliope – the muse of epic poetry
  2. Clio  – the muse of history
  3. Erato – the muse of love poetry
  4. Euterpe – the muse of music
  5. Melpomeme – the muse of tragedy
  6. Polyhymnia – the muse of sacred poetry
  7. Terpsichore – the muse of dance
  8. Thalia – the muse of comedy
  9. Urania – the muse of astronomy

Throughout the centuries, the muses have served as inspiration for various artists.  Homer asks the Muses at the beginning of both the Iliad and the Odyssey to tell the story.

 “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding” philosopher

Born in Edinburgh in 1711, David Hume, became one of the most influential philosophers of his day.  While his family had some wealth, as the younger son he was forced to consider making a living on his own.  Entering university at the tender age of ten, he had initially considered a career in law but later abandoned it in favor of reading more books.  At the age of eighteen, he envisioned a new “scene of thought”.  He spent the next ten years reading and writing to the point that he was near a mental breakdown.  Calling it the “Disease of the Learned”, he was ordered to take a course of bitters and then after completing that course, he was told to drink a pint of claret every day – such wisdom his doctor had!

David HumeAt age twenty -eight, he published A Treatise of Human Nature, considered by most to be his best work.  People of the day were inclined to disagree and it was not well-received.   In this he strove to show the psychological basis for the human race.  In opposition to the rationalists such as Rene Descartes, he believed that desire rather than reason was the guiding force behind human behavior.  He also scoffed at the idea of innate reasoning as he thought that man could only have knowledge about things that he could experience firsthand.

Other with whom Hume engaged were Jean Jacques Rousseau, Adam Smith and James Boswell.  Despite all of the luminous connections he had, he never did obtain a university appointment owing to the unrest his religious or anti-religious views depending on the source.

In addition to his philosophical essays and books, his History of England which depicts English history from the invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688 was widely popular in its day and continues to be a text that is used as a reference.

Locale of the Battle of Stoney Creek in the War of 1812

As the clue suggests, the Battle of Stoney Creek occurred during the War of 1812 – in what was Ontario.  In what can hardly be considered America’s finest hour on the battlefield, General Henry Dearborn, flush with victory after the capture of Fort George, was poised to stage an aggressive attack in Upper Canada.  The attack was planned for June 5, but indecision and poor weather stalled matters, and the troops did not arrive until June 2.  By then the British had been warned by a local youth, Billy Green, who had observed the troops and noted their locations.Stoney Creek

Lieutenant Colonel John Harvey, armed with the information from Green as well as the passwords obtained from a prisoner, convinced General John Vincent to stage a bold night raid on the troops.  It was a successful, albeit costly, maneuver.  The Americans were forced to retreat, and this battle became a turning point in the war as the Americans were forced to give up ideas of control of the Niagara peninsula.  It was also a launching point for Harvey who went on to distinguish himself in other victories.

 

Baseball trio, Island Time, Cheers!

One of Jesus’ brothers in baseball

This takes me back to the days of Trivial Pursuit – remember that game?  Sports was always my worst category, but one question I could answer was, “Who were the three Alou brothers?”  Answer:  Jesus, Felipe and Matty – the answer to today’s clue.

imageWhile there is a legend that says that all three brothers started in the outfield in a San Francisco Giants game, it is not true.  They all did play outfield in a game, but they did not start – an important difference.  How’s that for someone who claims to know next to nothing about sports?

While his career with the Giants was not remarkable, he did have one moment worth remembering.  In 1962, he hit a pinch-hit single in a tie-breaking game three which rallied the Giants, giving them the game win over the Dodgers as well as the pennant.  While known as an outfielder, he did pitch one game in 1963, leading to two scoreless innings.

Whne he was traded to the Pirates, he consulted with Harry “the Hat” Walker, whose tutelage produced impressive results.  He won the National League Batting Title in 1966 and was named All-Star twice in 1968 and 1969.

Denmark sold it to the U. S. in 1917

Really?  We purchased something from Denmark in 1917?  Yes, indeed, the U. S. purchased St. Croix as well as St. Thomas and St. John for the sum of $25 million dollars in gold.

imageSt. Croix was ruled mostly by indigenous tribes until the arrival of Columbus in 1492.  After that, it passed through numerous hands including Spain, the Netherlands, Malta, Great Britain and France.  In 1733, France sold it to Denmark.  For the next 200 years, the islands were known as the Danish West Indies.  In 1917, the sale was made; by 1927 the citizens were granted U. S. citizenship.

While St. Croix had always been an agrarian community, it soon became industrialized.  It was home to HOVENSA, one of the largest oil refineries in the world.  However, in 2012, it was closed.  Now agriculture is again in the forefront, with sugar and rum production leading the way.  It has been home to Cruzan Rum Distillery since the 1700’s and is now competing with Puerto Rico and Bermuda with their own single-barrel premium rum.

Its logo was the U.K.’s first registered trademark

The Bass Brewery was founded in 1777  by William Bass in Burton-Upon-Trent.  Bass Ale, one of its main brands, was once the number one selling ale in the U.K.  Its unique red triangle became the first registered trademark in the U.K.image

The Bass Brewery assumed control of a number of other smaller breweries throughout the 1960’s and later merged with Charrington Breweries, making it the largest brewery in the U.K.  In 2000, Anheuser-Busch InBev purchased the brewery, while the retail remained in the United Kingdom.

 

 

Down with the ship, How smart are you?

Lusitania

The Lusitania made her maiden voyage in 1907. Having been built to be the fastest liner afloat, she was nicknamed the “Greyhound of the Seas”. Unbeknownst the general public, the British admiralty had subsidized her manufacturing with the proviso that she would be later be consigned to government service. With the war looming in 1913, she was fitted with ammunition and gun mounts which were concealed under the deck.

In 1915, she left New York for Liverpool. While those unboard were unaware, the Germans were onto her secret arms. As she neared the coast of Ireland, a torpedo from the German uboat U 20 struck her. Another explosion on board ripped the liner apart. As the ship listed badly, lifeboats struck passengers trying to board them. The giant ship sank in eighteen minutes, killing 1,119 of the 1,924 on board (the total included 114 Americans).Lusitania

In the ship’s nursery, Alfred Vanderbilt, of the famously rich American family, and playwright Carl Frohman desperately tried to save the infants on board by piecing together life jackets as miniature life boats for them. All of this was to no avail – none of the infants survived, and both Vanderbilt and Frohman perished as well.

American public opinion was enraged. Not surprisingly, the fallout was immediate and widespread. President Wilson issued strong protests to the Germans. William Jennings Bryan, the Secretary of State, who was also a pacifist, resigned as a result. American antipathy towards the Germans had grown to dangerous proportions. Within two years, America declared war.

 

Psychologist Alfred who invented the intelligence test

Alfred Binet was a French psychologist who invented what became the first intelligence test. The initial purpose of his test was to identify students who would struggle with the traditional curriculum, not test who was a genius or not.

During his early years after law school, Binet studied the memories of ches220px-Alfred_Binets players and then studied the effects of hypnotism under Jean-Martin Charcot. Never attaining a major position with a university, his career had more or less stalled, when in 1899, he was asked to be a member of the Free Society for the Psychological Study of the Child. French education had changed over the years, and it was now mandatory for children ages six to fourteen to attend school.

With the help of a medical student, Theodore Simon, Binet developed a test for measuring intelligence, called the Binet-Simon scale. The scale was used to represent tasks typical of children’s abilities at various ages. In a practical sense, the scores revealed the child’s mental age. Binet believed that intelligence was diverse and responsive to environment and not just based on genetics.

Lewis Terman took the Simon-Benet scale and standardized using an American sample. Despite Binet’s initial purpose to advocate education for all children, the test was used in “curtailing the reproduction of feeble-mindedness and in the elimination of an enormous amount of crime, pauperism, and industrial inefficiency”.

That Binet did not speak out against the use of his name and test in such a manner seems implausible, but he was somewhat of an isolationist and never traveled outside of France and seldom participated in professional organizations. His test did not receive the same attention in France and did not have the same results.

He continued to study children throughout his life, and in his honor the Free Society for the Psychological Study of the Child was renamed La Societe Alfred Binet in his honor.

 

Mother of Perseus

Watch Jeopardy! with any regularity, and you will know that Greek mythology is a frequent category and with good reason. Greek and Roman mythology have existed for centuries, inspiring stories and artists of all kinds.

Danae was a princess of Argos in the Greek Peloponessos, a daughter of King Akrisios. When her father learned from a prophet that he would be killed by a son of his daughter, he did the only thing he could: he locked Danae away in a subterranean bronze chamber. However such a prison was no match for Zeus who impregnated her in the guise of a golden shower.

1280px-Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_026Once he learned of this, Akrisios had both Danae and her son, Perseus, placed in a chest and set them afloat on the sea. Through the intervention of various deities, they landed safely on the island of Seriphos where the fisherman, Diktys, brought them ashore and into his home.

In an effort to thwart King Polydectes’ proposal of marriage, Perseus brought back Medusa’s head and rescued Andromeda. He started for Argos, but after hearing the prophecy, went instead to Larissa where athletic games were ongoing. By chance, Akrisios was there and Perseus accidentally struck him on the head with a javelin – fulfilling the prophecy.