by .
A new constitution, established by a national referendum, changed the name of the Irish Free state to Ireland. The Irish Free State was a part of the British Commonwealth and was established in 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed in 1921.
Although Eamon de Valera had fought for an Irish republic during the rising of Easter 1916 and later during The War of Independence 1919-1921, he was able to ascend to power within a twenty-six county Free State which was still heavily invested with reminders of the Bitish establishment in Ireland.
Many of those who had supported de Valera, and also those who did not, expected him to proclaim a republic as soon as his party assumed power in 1932. Instead, he started to dismantle the trappings of British colonialism bit by bit and in the following years he busied himself with the writing of a new constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann),which when introduced in 1937, enabled the Irish Free State towards greater autonomy albeit stopping short of a declaration of a republic.
The Constitution, written in both Irish and English simultaneously, was enacted by the people of Ireland in the name of “The Most Holy Trinity” and introduced officially an ethos that was Gaelic. It ensured recognition for Roman Catholicism as the religion of the majority of Irish people, whilst at the same time recognising the rights of the Protestant, Jewish and other religions. More...
1996 - Guatemalan civil war comes to an end
The 36-year long civil war fought between several leftist groups representing the indigenous people and poor and the government came to an end after Comandante Rolando Morán of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity and president Álvaro Arzú signed a peace treaty under the supervision of the UN. Morán and Arzú received the Nobel Peace Prize for their role in bringing peace to the country.
1916 - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man published
The first novel of Irish writer, James Joyce, the book follows the life of Stephen Dedalus, who many believe was the author's alter ego. It first came out as a series in the literary magazine, The Egoist and was then published by American publisher B. W. Huebsch. James Joyce is best known for his book Ulysses, which is about a single day in the life of advertising agent, Leopold Bloom. In honor of the book, fans of the author celebrate an unofficial holiday, Bloomsday on June 16.
1911 - Mongolian Independence
The landlocked North East Asian country declared its independence from the Qing Dynasty, after the Mongolian Revolution of 1911. The country had been under the Qing rule for about 200 years.
1890 - Wounded Knee Massacre
On this day, the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry tried to disarm the members of the Lakota tribe who were camped at the Wounded Knee Creek. During their attempt, a shot was fired and the cavalry massacred over 150 members of the tribe including women and children. Many historians believe that the number of people massacred was much higher. Wounded Knee is near present day Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the state of South Dakota.
Historic Trivia - Siam
AMERICA'S FIRST SIAMESE CAT
For centuries the world-famous Siamese cat could be found only in Siam (now Thailand). There they allegedly guarded Buddhist shrines and attended members of the royal family. It didn't hurt that they were also arrestingly beautiful. Then, as now, the typical Siamese sported a light-coloured body with black feet, tail, and face, accented by glittering blue eyes.
These cats were destined to become one of the world's most popular breeds. But in the late 1800s, the creatures were largely unknown outside their home country. Their very first overseas ambassador went abroad in 1878, when David B. Sickels, a diplomat at the U.S. consulate in Bangkok, elected to send one to Lucy Hayes, wife of then-president Rutherford B. Hayes.
Considering everything the poor cat went through to reach America, one can understand why Siamese cats weren't exported much. The beleaguered feline travelled for two months, first going overland from Bangkok to Hong Kong, then by sea to San Francisco, then traversing the entire North American continent to Washington, D.C. She finally arrived at the White House, tucked inside a Wells Fargo crate, in early 1879.
The Hayes family was delighted, and named the exotic-looking female Siam. She enjoyed the run of the executive mansion and made a habit of walking in on political functions, where her looks always caused a stir.
Sadly, her stateside tour didn't last long. In the fall of 1870, she fell ill. The White House staff plied her with every delicacy imaginable, and the president's personal physician, Dr. J. H. Baxter, was called in. He took Siam home with him so he could provide round-the-clock care, but to no avail. In October she finally expired.
The presidential family, the White House staff, and cat fanciers in general were greatly saddened, because Siam had made quite an impression during her brief stateside sojourn. Interestingly, the cat's remains may still reside somewhere in the bowels of the government. After Siam's death, the president's steward, Billy Crump, supposedly delivered her body to the Secretary of Agriculture, with instructions that it should be preserved. Whether this happened - and where the remains might be - is now an open question. Careful searches of the Department of Agriculture and of the Smithsonian Institution's vast holdings turned up neither hide nor hair of Siam.
The establishment of Éire in 1937
A new constitution, established by a national referendum, changed the name of the Irish Free state to Ireland. The Irish Free State was a part of the British Commonwealth and was established in 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed in 1921.
Although Eamon de Valera had fought for an Irish republic during the rising of Easter 1916 and later during The War of Independence 1919-1921, he was able to ascend to power within a twenty-six county Free State which was still heavily invested with reminders of the Bitish establishment in Ireland.
Many of those who had supported de Valera, and also those who did not, expected him to proclaim a republic as soon as his party assumed power in 1932. Instead, he started to dismantle the trappings of British colonialism bit by bit and in the following years he busied himself with the writing of a new constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann),which when introduced in 1937, enabled the Irish Free State towards greater autonomy albeit stopping short of a declaration of a republic.
The Constitution, written in both Irish and English simultaneously, was enacted by the people of Ireland in the name of “The Most Holy Trinity” and introduced officially an ethos that was Gaelic. It ensured recognition for Roman Catholicism as the religion of the majority of Irish people, whilst at the same time recognising the rights of the Protestant, Jewish and other religions. More...
1996 - Guatemalan civil war comes to an end
The 36-year long civil war fought between several leftist groups representing the indigenous people and poor and the government came to an end after Comandante Rolando Morán of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity and president Álvaro Arzú signed a peace treaty under the supervision of the UN. Morán and Arzú received the Nobel Peace Prize for their role in bringing peace to the country.
1916 - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man published
The first novel of Irish writer, James Joyce, the book follows the life of Stephen Dedalus, who many believe was the author's alter ego. It first came out as a series in the literary magazine, The Egoist and was then published by American publisher B. W. Huebsch. James Joyce is best known for his book Ulysses, which is about a single day in the life of advertising agent, Leopold Bloom. In honor of the book, fans of the author celebrate an unofficial holiday, Bloomsday on June 16.
1911 - Mongolian Independence
The landlocked North East Asian country declared its independence from the Qing Dynasty, after the Mongolian Revolution of 1911. The country had been under the Qing rule for about 200 years.
1890 - Wounded Knee Massacre
On this day, the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry tried to disarm the members of the Lakota tribe who were camped at the Wounded Knee Creek. During their attempt, a shot was fired and the cavalry massacred over 150 members of the tribe including women and children. Many historians believe that the number of people massacred was much higher. Wounded Knee is near present day Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the state of South Dakota.
Historic Trivia - SiamAMERICA'S FIRST SIAMESE CAT
For centuries the world-famous Siamese cat could be found only in Siam (now Thailand). There they allegedly guarded Buddhist shrines and attended members of the royal family. It didn't hurt that they were also arrestingly beautiful. Then, as now, the typical Siamese sported a light-coloured body with black feet, tail, and face, accented by glittering blue eyes.
These cats were destined to become one of the world's most popular breeds. But in the late 1800s, the creatures were largely unknown outside their home country. Their very first overseas ambassador went abroad in 1878, when David B. Sickels, a diplomat at the U.S. consulate in Bangkok, elected to send one to Lucy Hayes, wife of then-president Rutherford B. Hayes.
Considering everything the poor cat went through to reach America, one can understand why Siamese cats weren't exported much. The beleaguered feline travelled for two months, first going overland from Bangkok to Hong Kong, then by sea to San Francisco, then traversing the entire North American continent to Washington, D.C. She finally arrived at the White House, tucked inside a Wells Fargo crate, in early 1879.
The Hayes family was delighted, and named the exotic-looking female Siam. She enjoyed the run of the executive mansion and made a habit of walking in on political functions, where her looks always caused a stir.
Sadly, her stateside tour didn't last long. In the fall of 1870, she fell ill. The White House staff plied her with every delicacy imaginable, and the president's personal physician, Dr. J. H. Baxter, was called in. He took Siam home with him so he could provide round-the-clock care, but to no avail. In October she finally expired.
The presidential family, the White House staff, and cat fanciers in general were greatly saddened, because Siam had made quite an impression during her brief stateside sojourn. Interestingly, the cat's remains may still reside somewhere in the bowels of the government. After Siam's death, the president's steward, Billy Crump, supposedly delivered her body to the Secretary of Agriculture, with instructions that it should be preserved. Whether this happened - and where the remains might be - is now an open question. Careful searches of the Department of Agriculture and of the Smithsonian Institution's vast holdings turned up neither hide nor hair of Siam.
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61-BLUES
