Month: January 2024

Elva Zona Heaster Discovered Dead (1897)

Shortly after marrying drifter Erasmus Shue, Heaster was found dead and was soon buried. Her mother, who suspected foul play, claimed to have had a vision in which her daughter’s ghost stated that Shue had broken her neck, killing her. When the body was exhumed, an autopsy confirmed that Heaster’s neck had been broken, and Shue was tried for murder. What role did the ghost—since known as the Greenbrier Ghost for Heaster’s hometown of Greenbrier County, West Virginia—play in the trial? Discuss

Édouard Manet (1832)

One of the foremost French artists of the 19th century, Manet is often regarded as the father of modern painting. Rebelling against the academic tradition, he developed a realist style that was one of the founding forces of Impressionism. Although his talent is recognized today, Manet was often greeted with harsh criticism during his career, including for his paintings Le déjeuner sur l’herbe—The Luncheon on the Grass—and Olympia. Why were the paintings controversial? Discuss

Terezín

The fortress of Terezín was constructed in the late 18th century in what is now the Czech Republic. In the early 1900s, it held famed prisoner Gavrilo Princip, who assassinated the Archduke of Austria, causing the outbreak of WWI. The Nazis took control of Terezín in 1940 and quickly turned it into concentration camp called Theresienstadt. The camp was presented to the outside world as a model Jewish settlement, but of the approximately 144,000 Jews sent to Theresienstadt, how many survived? Discuss

After 16 Years of Terrorizing New York City, Mad Bomber Arrested (1957)

Known as the Mad Bomber, George P. Metesky terrorized New York City for 16 years in the 1940s and 1950s with dozens of explosive devices that he planted in terminals, libraries, offices, phone booths, storage lockers, and restrooms in public buildings. He also bombed movie theaters by hiding his bombs within the upholstery of the seats. Metesky planted at least 33 bombs, and despite the fact that he often placed warning calls in advance of his bombings, 15 people were injured. Why did he do it? Discuss

Sir Francis Bacon (1561)

Bacon was a British statesman and philosopher widely regarded as the father of modern scientific method. His elaborate classification of the sciences inspired the 18th-century French Encyclopedists, and his empiricism inspired 19th-century British philosophers of science. Bacon began his public career as a member of Parliament, later serving as attorney general and lord chancellor. However, his career as a public servant ended when he was convicted and briefly imprisoned in 1621 for what crime? Discuss

Red Square

Red Square, located in Moscow, is one of the most famous city squares in Russia, with a rich history that is reflected in many works of art. After the square was cleared of buildings in 1493, it became Moscow’s primary marketplace as well as the site for various ceremonies, proclamations, and coronations. During the Soviet era, Red Square maintained its significance and was the site of the 1945 victory parade held after the defeat of Nazi Germany. What is the origin of the name “Red Square”? Discuss

Death of Last Native Speaker Leads to Extinction of Eyak Language (2008)

Eyak is an extinct language that was spoken in Alaska, near the mouth of the Copper River. Marie Smith Jones, the language’s last native speaker, as well as the last full-blooded Eyak, died in 2008 at the age of 89. Before her death, she worked with experts to compile a dictionary that would allow future generations to revive the language. With no native speakers left in the world, Eyak became a symbol in the effort against language extinction. Which languages are the closest relatives to Eyak? Discuss