Category: Open Lines

Friday, June 5th. This date is notable in the realm of economics, for it marks three significant anniversaries in that science. Political economist Adam Smith was believed born on this date in 1723 in Scotland. In 1883, the prominent 20th century economist John Maynard Keynes was born in England. A Keynes contemporary noted that “If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion.” That’s the case with Smith and Keynes, as broadly speaking, they represent …

Most little boys at the age of 6 are content to play with toy trucks without thinking about how they could be improved. This was not the case for Robert Patch. He designed a truck that could be assembled and disassembled easily by a youngster — and changed into different types of truck each time, such as a dump truck or a closed van. Patch submitted his application and drawings in 1962, and on this date in 1963, he was …

This is National Rose Month, celebrating America’s favorite flower, grown in all 50 states. One of the world’s biggest floral celebrations is going on now and will pack in its greatest activity through June — the Portland, Oregon Rose Festival, founded in 1907. Portland is called the City of Roses, and its many rose-themed celebrations began early in May and continue into July. Among the numerous events making up the festival are a youth silent film festival, a treasure hunt, …

On this date 91 years ago, Congress passed — and President Coolidge signed — the Indian Citizenship Act, which stated “all noncitizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby declared to be, citizens of the United States: Provided that the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property.” Prior to this act, about two-thirds of American Indians …

The first public phone booth was installed on this date in 1880 in New Haven, Connecticut, just four years after the telephone was invented. These first public telephones were supervised by attendants, while those operated by coins came along nine years later. Today, it’s rare to see a pay phone beyond transportation terminals, but the latest models have computer-like features, and worldwide, some booths are converting to wireless fidelity hot spots. Now, almost 98 percent of U.S. households have telephone …

Friday, May 29th. This date 11 years ago was the Saturday before Memorial Day, and thus appropriate for the dedication ceremony for the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Authorized in 1993, the memorial honoring the 16 million Americans who served in the global conflict, including the 400,000 dead, received nearly $2 million in donations and pledges, thanks in part to the efforts of actor Tom Hanks as spokesman for the memorial campaign. Currently, of the more than …

The first recorded automobile accident involving two vehicles occurred on this date in 1896 in New York City. Henry Wells of Springfield, Massachusetts was driving a new Duryea Motor Wagon, the first automobile model to be made and sold in the U.S. Unfortunately, he collided with Evelyn Thomas of New York, riding a bicycle. Thomas went to the hospital with a broken leg, and Wells spent the night in jail. Now, there are close to 5.7 million motor vehicle accidents …

The summer season ahead will see many backyard parties among friends and neighbors. In addition to grilled chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs, there will be baked beans and potato chips, often joined by a salad. Most grocery stores now carry a wide variety of greens, where some years ago, the standard all across America was iceberg lettuce. This variety is noted in May, as it’s National Salad Month. Annually, Americans eat an average of around 12 pounds of lettuce, 21 …

The first public high school in the U.S. was founded this month in 1820. The English Classical School opened in 1821 with 101 male students in Boston, which also was the seat for America’s first high school of any kind, the Boston Latin Grammar School. Boston Latin, beginning in 1635, sought to prepare young men for admittance to Harvard as divinity students. English Classical placed its emphasis on more general studies. High schools were slow to spread, and by 1870, …

Today is Memorial Day, looked on as the start of the summer season, and a time for family gatherings and sporting events. But the true meaning of the day is underlined by the continuing sacrifices made by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and other tense areas. The first official observance of Memorial Day was on May 30 in 1868. Ordered by General John Logan, flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. From …

Friday, May 22nd. We take for granted the many entertainment options so readily at hand because of the World Wide Web. Yet it can bring you up short when you realize how new this experience is. It was just 22 years ago on this date that a movie was digitized and loaded onto the Internet. In 1993, just under 23 percent of U.S. households had computers, and a negligible number accessed the Internet with early browsers, searching a mere 600 …

One of the most versatile and gifted people in American history revealed the invention of bifocal eyeglasses this month in 1785. Benjamin Franklin had been using one pair of glasses to read with and another for distant vision. Writing of this from France to an acquaintance, Franklin said he had the two pairs of lenses cut in half and mounted in the same frame. The idea of these split lenses, or bifocals, was slow to be adopted because of the …

Gas prices are a frequent cause for consumer complaint — but at least purchases aren’t restricted, as they were beginning this month in 1942. That’s when 17 states began rationing gasoline to help the war effort. By December, rationing was nationwide and remained in effect until the end of World War II, along with a national speed limit of 35 miles an hour, which was promoted as “Victory Speed.” Now, there are more than 114,000 gas stations across the country. …

By presidential proclamation, this month recognizes one of the nation’s fastest-growing population groups — those of Asian and Pacific American heritage. The observance began in 1978 with a joint congressional resolution honoring the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the 1840s and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1870 with the help of Chinese immigrants. The occasion was extended to the entire month in 1990. Now, over 19 million people in the U.S. are of full or partial …

The New York Stock Exchange, by signaling business prospects through share prices, has long been a bellwether of the nation’s economic health. The exchange started this week in 1792, as some two dozen merchants and brokers established an organized approach to their buying and selling. In good weather, they operated under a Buttonwood tree on Wall Street. Otherwise, they moved to the shelter of a nearby coffeehouse to continue their trading. This makeshift setup eventually evolved into an economic powerhouse, …

Friday, May 15th. Today is National Bike to Work Day, ending Bike to Work Week, but just about the middle of May’s National Bike Month. From coast-to-coast, cycling enthusiasts are expected to take part in a wide range of activities sponsored by environmental and civic groups, and police departments. About 18 percent of the population over age 16 does at least some bike riding during the year, with an estimated 9 million bike trips in the country every day. Even …

A most unusual childbearing event in medical history occurred in Lima, Peru on this date 76 years ago, which in 1939 happened to be Mothers Day. A boy was delivered by caesarian section, but that’s not the uncommon part. What was unique is that the mother, Lina Medina, was just over five and a half years old. For a time, this extraordinary story was believed to be a hoax, but it was quickly confirmed. How Lina Medina was impregnated has …

Today marks the 408th anniversary of the founding of the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, at Jamestown, Virginia. The name honored King James I of England. Captains John Smith and Christopher Newport were among the leaders of a group of royally chartered settlers who sailed from Plymouth, England aboard three small ships — the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. By 1625, more than 1,200 European colonists lived in Virginia. Today, the state has a …

As Americans live longer, the problems of financing their retirement and paying their medical bills continue to influence public policies. But the growing number of healthy seniors also means greater availability of experience. Both the problems and opportunities are in the spotlight in May — it’s Older Americans Month. There are nearly 48 million people aged 65 and older in the U.S., almost 15 percent of the population. By the year 2060, the number of elderly is projected to be …

Today is the 161st birthday of a German-American whose name may not be familiar, but whose invention had a profound impact on the reading habits of all Americans, and indeed, the world. His name was Ottmar Mergenthaler. His invention, the linotype, allowed one person to set type for printing by simply pressing keys on a keyboard, bypassing four different operations at much greater speeds. It was first used in 1886 by the New York Tribune and remained in industry use …