The Flag

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted a resolution stating that the official American Flag should have thirteen stripes, alternating between red and white, thirteen stars, to represent the states in the union, and a blue field to represent this new constellation. June 14 officially became National Flag Day in 1949. On Flag…

Continue Reading

Home

Here is an excerpt from a speech by the managing editor for the Atlanta Constitution in the 1880s Henry W. Grady, transcribed in Anniversary Gregg by yours truly. Attachment: home.pdf

Continue Reading

Glaucus and Arbaces in the Amphitheater

The Last Days of Pompeii, by English writer and politician Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton, takes place in 1st century Rome. It tells the story of Glaucus, a young Greek in love with Ione, a beautiful and intelligent Greek set to marry him. Ione was left orphan in her childhood; the Egyptian sorcerer and high Isis priest…

Continue Reading

Learning by Heart

In this essay transcribed by me in Anniversary Gregg, British judge and advocate Vernon Lushington tells us the importance of learning things by heart. Attachment: learning-by-heart.pdf

Continue Reading

Spring in Kentucky

James Lane Allen was an American writer. Born in Kentucky, his novels A Kentucky Cardinal and its continuation Aftermath tell the romantic journey of a young Kentucky naturalist, Adam Moss, with a society girl. In this selection from Chapters II and III of the former, he describes the spring season in that part of the…

Continue Reading

The Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge is, as the name implies, a natural limestone arch within a gorge formed by Cedar Creek, a 12-mile tributary of the James River in Virginia. While it was once owned by Thomas Jefferson, it is now a state park located approximately 140 west of Richmond and about 200 miles southwest of Washington,…

Continue Reading

The Mont Blanc Road Tunnel

The Mont Blanc Road Tunnel connects France and Italy under the Mont Blanc mountain in the Alps. It links the city of Chamonix in France with Courmayeur in Italy. This tunnel is of paramount importance, both for commercial and recreational driving, as it reduces the time to travel between the two countries. This article details…

Continue Reading

Beaucoup de plats et treize desserts : le Reveillon du Noël provençal

The beautiful southern French region of Provence has its own Christmas traditions, including a big celebration on Christmas Eve, with lots of dishes and thirteen desserts! This article transcribed by me in Sténographie Gregg (Anniversary and Simplified) explains this tradition. Attachment: beaucoup-de-plats-et-13-desserts-le-reveillon-du-noel-provencal-anniv.pdf Attachment: beaucoup-de-plats-et-13-desserts-le-reveillon-du-noel-provencal-simpl.pdf

Continue Reading

The Emperor’s Vision

This beautiful legend behind the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Altar in Heaven in the heart of Rome is brought to us by Selma Lagerlöf as part of her book Christ Legends. I transcribed it in Anniversary Gregg for the blog. Attachment: the-emperors-vision.pdf

Continue Reading

À Paris !

Here is a little charming anecdote told by American Presbyterian minister Frank Crane, from his book Adventures in Common Sense, transcribed by yours truly in Sténographie Gregg (Anniversary and Simplified) for the blog. Attachment: a-paris-anniv.pdf Attachment: a-paris-simpl.pdf

Continue Reading