Quote of the Month

Over at the Mail on Sunday, Mr. Peter Jonathan Hitchens writes:

We are already living in a republic. We just don’t know it yet. Diana Spencer, perhaps the most brilliant politician of our age, destroyed the British monarchy 20 years ago.

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George III Coronation 256

256 (2^8) years ago today, George III of the United Kingdom was crowned.

Olav V Succeeds Haakon VII

60 years ago today, Crown Prince Olav of Norway, born Prince Alexander Edward Christian Frederik of Denmark, ascended to the ancient throne of St. Olav as King Olav V, upon the demise of his father, King Haakon VII.

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Proclaimed Republic

225 years ago today, the First French Republic was proclaimed.

Vive le Roi de la France!

My take on the anniversary at LRC.

Papal Peace Initiative

A century ago today, the Central Powers responded to the peace initiative of Pope Benedict XV.

Quote of the Month (August)

Writes Bionic Mosquito:

The end of the war came: Germany was forced to accept all blame for the war. Meanwhile, Britain achieved its objective: progress in Russia would grind to a halt, with the revolutions of 1917 ensuring Russia would remain diverted for quite some time.

The cost? Ten million dead from fighting, half-again from disease. Two-hundred billion dollars spent; European economies shattered. Deficits piled high, empires that dominated the globe destroyed.

Britain had won the battle, if one can refer to the Great War as such within the context of containing Russia; it lost the war.

And it took European civilization down with it.

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Oscar II of Sweden and Norway

145 years ago today, King Oscar II ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway.

Federal Constitution of U.S. Adopted

23 decades ago today, the federal Constitution of those United States was signed, and the Constitutional Convention dissolved, at Independence Hall in Phildelphia in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Russia Declared Republic

A century ago today, Russia was declared a republic.

Mencken 137

A century and three dozen years ago today, H.L. Mencken was born.

On the occasion of yesterday's Norwegian parliamentary election, a quote is brought to you:

[E]very election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

In November, the H.L. Mencken Club hosts its 2017 conference – November 3 through 4.

The Guillotine Retired

40 years ago today, the French Fifth Republic performed execution by the guillotine for the last time.

Anything else in France need retiring?

Independence of Brazil

Five years short of two centuries ago today, the future Emperor Dom Pedro I proclaimed the independence of Brazil.

The Marquis de la Fayette at 260

A baker's dozen score years ago today, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de la Fayette was born.

Passing ot the King's PM

Two to the power of seven years ago today, Christian August Selmer, Norwegian Prime Minister of King Oscar II, who fought with His Majesty against the usurping Parliament during the “constitutional crisis” of the 1880s, passed away.

Light Bulbs

Five years ago today, the last phase of the ban against the incandescent light bulb came into force.