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May 27: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

May 27, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History
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ON THIS DAY IN 1876, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The services in memoriam of the Revolutionary martyrs will occur at Fort Greene Park promptly at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1888, the Eagle reported, “A Boston paper tells of a funny blunder which was made by Bishop Eastburn at a crowded church wedding in that city. Some spectators at the back of the church stood upon the benches in order to get a better view of the ceremony. The bishop saw them and pausing in the service said in his most solemn tones: ‘Remember the sacred character of this house; let all who are present sit upon the floor and put their feet upon the seats.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1892, the Eagle reported, “The semi-annual examination for graduation from the grammar schools and admission to the girls’ and boys’ high schools will be held June 20, 21, 22 and 23. The final examinations of classes of the second grammar grade will be held June 23 and 24.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1905, the Eagle reported, “Thousands of persons living in this city, says the New York correspondent of the Pittsburgh Dispatch, are planning to leave for the so called watering places this summer, while thousands of persons who are not so fortunate as to live here are getting ready to come here for the warm season. New Yorkers seem to overlook that this is the greatest summer resort in the world. Within forty minutes’ ride of the City Hall there are long stretches of sandy beach flanked with fine pavilions, where the best bathing facilities are to be had. There is Bath Beach, Brighton, Manhattan Beach, Coney Island, Sea Gate and a score of other places inside the city limits. For amusements there is Coney Island, with the attractions of the World’s Fair; plays and operas and vaudeville in the theaters at the other beaches. Summer shows flourish all along Broadway, and at least a half dozen roof gardens will be in full swing before the middle of June. There is baseball every day and horse racing of the highest quality.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1917, Eagle columnist Frederick Boyd Stevenson said, “Well, what about conscription and the manner of selection? Many of us have been in the dark on the subject and have followed the belief that has gained credence that the names once secured by registration would be placed in a wheel in the same manner as the lists of possible jurors were placed in the old sheriff’s wheel — that a rapid twirl would be given to the wheel and Fate would do the rest of it. Perhaps, after all, ‘chance’ does not play such an important part in our destinies as some of us imagine. We say we’ll ‘take a chance.’ But do we ‘take a chance?’ How many of us really believe in that fatalism which is supposed to be a fixed and inevitable decree of the arbiters of destiny? Those of us who do believe in it must admit, in this particular case of the present world war, at least, that the Kaiser is the arbiter of, not only our personal destiny, but also of the destinies of all the peoples of the civilized and uncivilized nations and tribes on the face of the earth. If we accept this law, we must narrow down the responsibility for the havoc done to all mankind to a single individual who has predetermined the whole history of the universe and controlled the destinies of all living creatures by the uplifting and down-turning of a thumb.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “The Weather Bureau came up with a pleasant surprise today when it forecast ideal weather for the start of the Decoration Day weekend. Rain had been predicted previously but the bureau reversed itself and said today would be mostly sunny and warm, and that it would be fair tonight and tomorrow, too. The only unpleasantness, it was reported, will be a bit of fog tonight. Meanwhile, throngs of Brooklynites had left the borough for mountains, seashore and inland lakes, and thousands more, spurred by this morning’s early sunshine, left today. All major railroads added extra sections, 68 additional flights were on yesterday’s schedule at LaGuardia Field and 24 extra flights were added today. Coney Island and the Rockaways were officially opened today but not many were expected to venture into the surf. The high today is expected to be in the upper 70s. Meanwhile, safety officials urged extra caution on the part of pleasure-bound holiday crowds, with particular stress on motorists. A total of 408 persons died in Memorial Day accidents last year, including 229 in traffic accidents, 96 in drownings and 83 from miscellaneous causes.”

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Louis Gossett Jr.
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Daniel Jones
Abbie Parr/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who was born in 1923; Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., who was born in Brooklyn in 1936; “Hill Street Blues” star Bruce Weitz, who was born in 1943; “The West Wing” star Richard Schiff, who was born in 1955; journalist Cynthia McFadden, who was born in 1956; Siouxsie and the Banshees founder Siouxsie Sioux, who was born in 1957; Crowded House founder Neil Finn, who was born in 1958; “Frasier” star Peri Gilpin, who was born in 1961; talk show host Adam Carolla, who was born in 1964; Baseball Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, who was born in 1968; Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, who was born in 1968; “Shakespeare in Love” star Joseph Fiennes, who was born in 1970; “Glee” star Chris Colfer, who was born in 1990; N.Y. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who was born in 1997; and “A Faithful Man” star Lily-Rose Depp, who was born in 1999.

Peri Gilpin
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

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SOUND FORTH THE TRUMPET: Julia Ward Howe was born in New York City on this day in 1819. The author, feminist, social activist and orator is best known for the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which she composed in 1862 after visiting military camps during the Civil War. She was also a leading figure in the abolition and women’s suffrage movements. She died in 1910.

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SEMPER FORTIS: The USS John F. Kennedy was launched on this day in 1967 by the slain president’s widow Jacqueline and daughter Caroline two days before what would have been his 50th birthday. Kennedy earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal during World War II.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

 

Quotable:

“The strokes of the pen need deliberation as much as the sword needs swiftness.”

— author and activist Julia Ward Howe, who was born on this day in 1819


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