ON THIS DAY IN 1901, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “ROME ― For years past, Rome has never been so overcrowded with foreign visitors as this season. It is computed that no less than 85,000 tourists of various nationalities ― 15,000 more than at the same time last year ― arrived to assist at the functions of holy week. Hotels, boarding and lodging houses are all filled to overflowing, while the principal streets and squares are fairly encumbered by long lines of carriages crowded with sightseers. Public interest is more than ever centered on the approaching birth of the future scion of the house of Savoy. Already the entire layette, gift of the queen-mother, Margaret, and prepared under her personal supervision, has been consigned to the young Queen of Italy. All the toilet accessories are in massive silver. Queen Margaret has also placed at the disposal of her royal daughter-in-law the cradle presented her by the Neapolitan Labor Associations on occasion of the birth of Victor Emmanuel III.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1940, the Eagle reported, “Kentucky Derby. That race makes it a sort of national holiday for racing fans. The day they will celebrate at Churchill Downs is Saturday. Already racing enthusiasts from all sections of the U.S.A. are gathering together their best bibs and tuckers to make the trek to Louisville, Ky. Churchill Downs, if you never have been to the scene of the opening event of the triple crown of the turf ― Derby, Preakness and Belmont ― is only a short distance from the heart of Mint Julep town. If you haven’t a car of your own in which to make the trip, you can hire a seat in a taxi for $1 each person. That’s a jump of 75 cents over the regular rate. This is Derby Day. If you don’t care for that strain on your purse, you can get to the Downs by trolley car, three tickets for 25 cents. But on Derby Day everything jumps up ― sort of financial jitters. Maybe that’s why so many visitors indulge in a smack or two ― or more ― of the famed mint juleps. For each gulp ― you don’t get much more as your portion ― you pay 50 cents.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (UP) ― The Government today took official cognizance, without affirmation or denial, of a report that Heinrich Himmler had offered to guarantee the unconditional surrender of Germany to America and Britain ― excluding Russia ― and had received a blunt rejection. A statement from No. 10 Downing St., apparently written by Prime Minister Churchill, hinted that some offer of capitulation might be received from the Nazis at any time. The exceptional procedure of issuing such a statement, coupled with its assertion that the government had no information on the subject ‘at this moment,’ suggested that Churchill might be standing by for any proposal. The report on which the official statement was based said Himmler, German Interior Minister and Gestapo Chief, offered to guarantee the unconditional surrender of Germany to the United States and Britain. In the words of the Downing St. statement, the report added that the western Allies ‘replied, saying they will not accept unconditional surrender except on behalf of all the Allies, including Russia.’”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle said, “Brooklynites can always be sure Spring is official when the Brooklyn Botanic Garden holds its annual cherry blossom festival. They have a good idea, despite the Weather Man, as Ebbets Field goes into action, but this colorful annual rite in the heart of Brooklyn is the clincher. The May Queens, we swear, are more beautiful each year. Seventeen-year-old Mary Ann Rakowski will wear the crown this time, having been chosen for the honor at Prospect Heights High School, where she is a senior. She’s pert, blue-eyed and wholesomely pretty and an honor student besides. Queens College is her next education destination. Then she wants to teach. The festival ought to serve another purpose. That of reminding Brooklynites that the garden is a fascinating place and if you visit it once you’ll return. People always do. You do not have to go to Washington to see cherry blossoms.”
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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include former Secretary of State James Baker, who was born in 1930; former N.Y. Yankees closer Pedro Ramos, who was born in 1935; “Viva Las Vegas” star Ann-Margret, who was born in 1941; comedian and talk show host Jay Leno, who was born in 1950; former Allman Brothers Band keyboardist Chuck Leavell, who was born in 1952; “Battlestar Galactica” star Mary McDonnell, who was born in 1952; Sonic Youth founder Kim Gordon, who was born in 1953; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who was born in 1960; Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, who was born in 1964; “Lost” star Jorge Garcia, who was born in 1973; Oscar-winning actress Penelope Cruz, who was born in 1974; “Sin City” star Jessica Alba, who was born in 1981; former NFL quarterback Blake Bortles, who was born in 1992; and N.Y. Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who was born in 2001.
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FOUNDER’S DAY: James Monroe was born on this day in 1758. The fifth U.S. president (1817-1825) was born in Virginia and fought in the American Revolution. Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, is named after him, as is the Monroe Doctrine, which opposes further European colonialism in the Americas. He died in 1831 and was, along with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, one of three presidents to die on Independence Day. He was also the last president to never be photographed.
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SOUTHERN CHARM: Harper Lee was born on this day in 1926. The Alabama native wrote the 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winner “To Kill A Mockingbird,” one of the most beloved novels of all time. The film version, starring Gregory Peck as the heroic Atticus Finch, won three Academy Awards. Lee’s only other novel, “Go Set a Watchman,” was released in 2015. She died in 2016.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“The right of self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals.”
— U.S. President James Monroe, who was born on this day in 1758
