Fraternity-Testvériség, 1965 (43. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1965-12-01 / 12. szám

4

FRATERNITY

suit ended, there were about 600,000 automobiles in the United States, some driven by steam, some by gasoline and some by electricity. From that time on, motoring — which previously had been considered as a sport — became increasingly a routine means of transportation. Although the first U. S. automobile patent was not issued until 1895, several manufacturers had produced experimental automobiles before then . . . Charles and Frank Duryea’s horseless carriage appeared in 1892-1894; Elwood Haynes constructed his automobile at about the same time, and Alexander Winter brought out his in 1896. Henry Ford’s first car, an experimental model, appeared in 1893. — (A. C. N. S.)

FIRST LENDING LIBRARY IN AMERICA

On November 8, 1731 — 234 years ago — Benjamin Franklin, then only 23 years old, founded in Philadelphia the first lending library in the American colonies. Franklin realized, even at that age, the importance of books to the education of a nation. Today the public library system in the United States — comprising some 9,500 public libraries

and some 8,500 libraries of other kinds — is one of the best in the world and is used by millions of Americans for both education and

entertainment. — (A. C. N. S.)

JEROME KERN — AMERICAN COMPOSER

On November 11, 1945 — 20 years ago — Jerome David Kern,

noted American composer, died at the age of 60. A native of New

York City, he studied music there, in Germany and England. Kern’s

score for “The Red Petticoat”, a musical comedy produced in New

York City in 1911, was his initial success. He composed the music

for many Broadway productions. His outstanding work is “Show Boat”. As a composer, Kern demonstrated great musicianship, originality and

imagination, endowing his music with the dramatic quality of the stage action. Among the best of his songs are “01’ Man River”, “They Didn’t Believe Me”, “Look for the Silver Lining”, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and “The Last Time I Saw Paris”. — (A. C. N. S.)

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON — WOMAN SUFFRAGE LEADER

On November 12, 1815 — 150 years ago — Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American woman’s suffrage leader, was born in the state of New York. Through the influence of Lucretia Mott, she signed the call for the first woman’s rights convention, held at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. Her husband, Henry B. Stanton, helped organize this convention which made the first formal demand for the extension of the right to vote to women. Mrs. Stanton became president of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association formed at that time, and retained the office for 45 years. She was a candidate for Congress in 1868. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was joint author with Susan B. Anthony and others of “A History of Woman Suffrage”, a work in four volumes, the last of which was published in 1902, the year of Mrs. Stanton’s death. — (A. C. N. S.)