It is a sweeping day in history, once again, with Kings, and Popes, and Emperors, doing what they did, all across the lands. There are too many for me to list on all my fingers and toes. But here are a few on this May 29.
1790 — Rhode Island became the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the United States Constitution. They had short man’s syndrome, I think. The state was full of piss and vinegar. American newspapers back then called the state “the perverse sister.” “An evil genius.”
They were also known as “Rogue Island.” And, in 1787, Rhode Island refused to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention. They resisted national government. But, eventually, they gave in, on this date in 1790, and became all for one, and one for all.
1851 — Sojourner Truth addressed the first National Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. Not only was Sojourner Truth there, but several other big hitters in Women’s Rights too. Truth gave her famous address on that day, “Ain’t I a Woman.” We can thank all of them for their brave work, which continues today.
1886 — The American chemist named John Pemberton began to advertise his new invention of Coca-Cola. I’ve written about him here, a few times at least. A pharmacist wishing to create a good drink for the masses.
Coca-Cola was originally advertised as a brain tonic. It is still my brain tonic, but back then, it was said to relieve headaches and exhaustion. It contained ingredients from the kola nut, including caffeine and also cocaine. There was just a tiny bit of powdery Coke in Coke — about 9 milligrams per glass. It was removed in 1903. But everyone snorted the drink with a straw for those first 17 years.
1912 — In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 young women were fired by the Curtis Publishing. Their offense? They were caught dancing the “Turkey Trot” during their lunch break. Woot.
The Turkey Trot, it seems, was deemed offensive. Yes, even the Vatican said so. Those conservative members of society felt the dance promoted immorality and tried fiercely to get the dance banned at public functions. If they could only see the dancing that is celebrated at halftime shows and awards ceremonies today. They had no idea.
And one more for the “Then / Now” comparison.
1943 — Meat and cheese rationing began in the United States due to the ensuing world war. Can you imagine if that was asked of people today? It would be an infringement of their personal freedoms and rights. They’d march into grocery markets with their guns and take all the meat and cheese that they wanted, citing their Constitutional Rights. Bologna, I say.
Finally.
1953 — Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) were the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest as part of a British Expedition. I have never understood the mountain climbing thing, but it takes every kind of person to make this world go around. However, these days, people line up in droves to go up Everest, leaving mounds of trash and dead bodies behind. So much for the beauty of nature.
History can tell us a wide variety of things. We can learn from both the successes and the mistakes. The key word in that sentence is “can.” But most of the time, we continue to do what we do and watch the ensuing dominoes tumble.
But at least we had the Turkey Trot.
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“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
― Winston S. Churchill
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“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
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“Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.”
― George Bernard Shaw
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Feeling good about history, that Coke in your Coke.
