Author Archives: SUMPTER

“incongruous” fourth

Posted on July 4, 2017 by SUMPTER

Talk about progress. Thanks to the global media, seemingly more and more omnipresent, we can be more and more aware of all the pain and agony throughout this world. I realize I don’t have enough empathy for all the people … Continue reading →

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oh … canada

Posted on July 1, 2017 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today three British colonies up north joined together to make one Dominion of Canada – one British colony with four separate provinces (the colony of Canada was cleft in two). Most citizens were reportedly able to contain … Continue reading →

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the three wise men denigrated

Posted on June 24, 2017 by SUMPTER

150 years ago earlier this month Wendell Phillips seemed a bit miffed that Jefferson Davis had been bailed out back in May. From The New-York Times June 7, 1867: Jefferson Davis and His Friends. From the Anti-Slavery Standard of This … Continue reading →

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WASPish

Posted on June 17, 2017 by SUMPTER

It probably wasn’t another august madness; I doubt anybody thought the doughboys would be home for Christmas (at least not in 1917 – first they had to get over there). But 100 years ago there was a lot of evidence … Continue reading →

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family reunion

Posted on June 8, 2017 by SUMPTER

This is the Showing forth of the Inquiry of Herodotus of Halicarnassos, to the end that neither the deeds of men may be forgotten by lapse of time, nor the works great and marvellous, which have been produced some by … Continue reading →

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father’s day

Posted on June 4, 2017 by SUMPTER

In December 1811 Jacob Johnson of Raleigh, North Carolina jumped into Hunter’s Mill Pond to rescue three men whose boat had capsized. He successfully saved all three, but in January 1812 Jacob Johnson died, possibly as a result of jumping … Continue reading →

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pre-dawn queues

Posted on June 3, 2017 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today recently enfranchised black men in the District of Columbia once again took advantage of their new right to vote in large numbers at a local election. The presumably more progressive Republicans won  all the city-wide races … Continue reading →

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Gone Hollywood

Posted on May 31, 2017 by SUMPTER

150 years ago today thousands of Richmond residents converged on Hollywood cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate war dead. Although a riot broke out in Richmond on May 11th, the Times’ HENRICO correspondent emphasized that the city was peaceful … Continue reading →

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more to come

Posted on May 30, 2017 by SUMPTER

Back in April 1917 the United States declared war on Germany. As young American men were signing up for the draft and getting ready to be shipped to France, the country observed Decoration Day on May 30th. One hundred years … Continue reading →

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baseball buddies

Posted on May 29, 2017 by SUMPTER

Couldn’t we just have played two back in ’61? Or even a best of seven? As much as I dream about duels replacing wars, I know I’m just dreaming. No jousts or David v. Goliath for modern times. Jeff Davis … Continue reading →

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