This is a statue of Augustus Caesar, who apparently started the month as a bridge between July and September and a reason for the country of France to close down once a year.
Welcome to our new weekly history lesson. And, for starters, we head all the way back to...
1201 - THE CITY OF RIGA IS FOUNDED.
Later it merged with the city of Toni to start the first ever pasta factory.
1572 - MARRIAGE IN PARIS OF THE FUTURE HUGUENOT KING HENRY IV OF NAVARRE TO MARGUERITE DE VALOIS IN A SUPPOSED ATTEMPT TO RECONCILE PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS.
And how did that work out for you? Meanwhile, years later, my grandmother was still bitching whenever one of my cousins married a Catholic.
1587 - VIRGINIA DARE, GRANDDAUGHTER OF GOVERNOR JOHN WHITE OF THE COLONY OF ROANOKE, BECOMES THE FIRST ENGLISH CHILD BORN IN THE AMERICAS.
Little did they know at the time that she'd also be one of the last.
1634 - URBAIN GRANDIER, ACCUSED AND CONVICTED OF SORCERY, IS BURNED ALIVE IN LOUDUN, FRANCE.
A lot of things changed by the time Samantha Stephens came around.
1838 - THE WILKES EXPEDITION, WHICH WOULD EXPLORE THE PUGET SOUND AND ANTARCTICA, WEIGHS ANCHOR AT HAMPTON ROADS.
Okay, I sure hope those explorations were done on separate trips. Aren't the Puget Sound and Antarctica on opposite ends of the world? I'm wondering if the Captain got a little confused on Google Maps.
1862 - MINNESOTA TRADER ANDREW MYRICK IS KILLED AND HAS HIS MOUTH STUFFED WITH GRASS.
Huh? Was he killed by crazed environmentalists when he refused to recycle?
1868 - FRENCH ASTRONOMER PIERRE JULES CESAR JANSSEN DISCOVERS HELIUM.
And two days later, Janssen's teenage son shows his friends a great party trick.
1920 - THE NINETEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATE CONSTITUTION IS RATIFIED, GUARANTEEING WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.
If they put it on the ballot this year, we might have a different outcome.
1928 - CINCINNATI REDS OWNER MARGE SCHOTT IS BORN.
Born over 60 years after the abolition of slavery, Marge was way, way too late.
1933 - DIRECTOR ROMAN POLANSKI IS BORN.
Which means that, around 1950, he was the right age for that girl.
1936 - ROBERT REDFORD IS BORN.
Go ahead. Do the math. The guy is really old now.
1963 - JAMES MEREDITH BECOMES THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI.
That had to be a lonely study group. Meanwhile, how many kids in this school can actually spell the name of the state they're in?
1969 - JIMI HENDRIX PLAYS THE UNOFFICIAL LAST DAY OF THE WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL.
So, was there an official last day of the Woodstock Festival? I am guessing some of the attendees are still hearing music in their heads.
1982 - JAPANESE ELECTION LAW IS AMENDED TO ALLOW FOR PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.
Don't call me until dolphins or sharks get a vote.
2005 - DENNIS RADER IS SENTENCED TO 175 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE BTK SERIAL KILLINGS.
A good lawyer gets that sentence commuted to 125 years.
Dinner last night: The wonderful buffet at the Dodger Stadium Club.
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