January 6, 2008

Born on this date
Happy 154th birthday, Sherlock Holmes!

‘A most characteristic question of yours, Watson...You will not, I am sure, be offended if I say that any reputation for sharpness which I may possess has been entirely gained by the admirable foil which you have made for me. Have I not heard of debutantes who have insisted upon plainness in their chaperones? There is a certain analogy.’

The Field Bazaar

125 years ago
1883

Born on this date
Kahlil Gibran. Ottoman-born U.S. poet, artist, and philosopher. Mr. Gibran, a native of Ottoman Lebanon, moved to the United States with his family when he was 12. He was a prolific painter before achieving greater success as a writer. Mr. Gibran was raised as a Maronite Christian, but was influenced by Islamic Sufi mysticism and the Baháʼí Faith, and believed in the fundamental unity of religions. He expressed his views in his art and books, the best known of which was The Prophet (1923), a collection of 26 prose poetry fables. Mr. Gibran was a heavy drinker who died on April 10, 1931 at the age of 48, from cirrhosis of the liver, while developing tuberculosis in one lung.

80 years ago
1928

At the movies
The Circus, produced, directed, written by, and starring Charlie Chaplin, received its premiere screening at the Strand Theatre in New York City.

Disasters
In London, thaw and a high tide caused the Thames River to flood the cellars of the Houses of Parliament and the Tate Gallery, many dwellings further east. 15 lives were lost. The peak of the flood was between Kew and Canning Town, where it burst through the embankment boundaries, foamed through neighbouring streets, swamped basements, and filled the first storeys of houses to the ceilings. In Westminster, 10 people died and thousands were driven from their homes.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A.: At the Hop--Danny and the Juniors

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A.: Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)
#1 single in the U.K.: Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (5th week at #1)

30 years ago
1978

World events
U.S. President Jimmy Carter returned to Washington after a 9-day, 16,000 mile tour that saw him visit Poland, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, and Belgium.

Hockey
Super Series '78 ended with the Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens defeating the Czechoslovakian club Spartak 5-2 at the Montreal Forum.