When I was younger, one of my favorite things to do was look through our set of encyclopedias. A to Z they were our first go to whenever we had a research question. While reading, I came across many interesting facts and people that spurred my interest of unsung heroes, little known facts, and interesting tidbits that blossomed into an interest of origins of words, sayings and why we do what we do. So here is an eclectic collection of historical, literary and diverting facts, for your reading enjoyment, that I looked up yesterday so I could write this post!! Here we go...
President James A.Garfield was both ambidextrous and multilingual, and could write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other hand... simultaneously!
In 1942 Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans and their best friend Christoph Probst, organized a student resistance group called The White Rose which published a series of leaflets condemning Nazi Germany. These leaflets circulated through their University (the University of Munich) and spread to different parts of Germany and Austria. They were arrested by the Gestapo on February 18th, 1943, tried 4 days later and sentenced to death. On February 22, 1943 they met their end bravely and calmly. Sophie is credited with saying this before she died: "How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause? Such a fine sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us thousands are awakened and stirred to action?"
The S.S Eastland, known as the "Speed Queen of the Great Lakes" claimed 844 passenger lives including 22 whole families, when it rolled over while docked at the Clark Street Bridge in Chicago.
Henri Rene Albert Guy de Maupassant disliked the Eiffel Tower so much he ate lunch in it every day, just so he didn't have to look at it.
The expression "riding shotgun" comes from the term "shotgun messenger" which refers to the guard who sat next to the stagecoach driver. The guards would use a shotgun to keep criminals or outlaws away.
Bubble wrap was first invented in 1957 in a New Jersey garage. The inventors were attempting to make an easy-wipe textured wallpaper.
Charles Blondin crossed the Niagara Falls using a 1,000 ft. tightrope multiple times. Being a daredevil, he crossed in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, on stilts, blindfolded, in a sack, carrying a man on his back and cooking and eating an omelet in the middle!
When Charles Dickens was trying to name his character Tiny Tim, he also considered the options of Puny Pete, Small Sam, and Little Larry! (Katherine says she is glad he went with Tiny Tim!)
Well, there you have is; a mouthful of morsels to entertain you today.
Do any of you have any morsels that have tickled your fancy?
We love morsels, so please share them below!
