Happy 150th Birthday, Rainer Maria Rilke

At Java Central today, another customer had Rilke's "Duino Elegies" with him. I said, "Hey, tomorrow is the 150th anniversary of Rilke's birth!" Influential Austrian poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke was born December 4, 1875!  I like his "Book of Hours". 

I live my life in widening circles

that reach out across the world.

I may not complete this last one

but I will give myself to it.

I circle around God, around the primordial tower.

I’ve been circling for thousands of years

and I still don’t know: am I a falcon,

a storm, or a great song?

Happy birthday, George Mason

 Born 300 years ago--December 11, 1725--George Mason authored much of the Fairfax Resolves of 1774, the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776, and also his Objections to this Constitution of Government (1787). He had been a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787 but refused to sign the constitution, citing its lack of a bill of rights. His Virginia Declaration of Rights subsequently became the basis of the Bill of Rights. He spoke out against slavery, which he called a "slow poison" for the nation, and worked to end the international slave trade. Yet he owned numerous slaves and is not known to have freed any.

Happy birthday, Leo X

 Pope Leo X (Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici) was born on December 11, 1475. 550 years. Leo spent crazy amounts of money, patronizing the arts and funding the War of Urbino. He is associated with the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, because his granting of indulgences for donors to St. Peter's reconstruction was criticized by Martin Luther in the latter's 95 Theses. Leo eventually issued a statement (the papal bull Exsurge Domine, "Arise, O Lord") condemning Luther's stance. This picture is Raphael, "Portrait of Pope Leo X with Cardinals Giulio de’Medici and Luigi de’Rossi", c. 1518.

Vandalia's Statehouse

The Tenth Illinois General Assembly convened in my hometown on December 5, 1836. It was the first government session to meet at our Vandalia Statehouse. The session initiated a bold system of public works ("internal improvements"), selected Springfield to be the next state capital, moved along authorization of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and incorporated the then-small city of Chicago. 

The session was also a gathering of great political talent. Of its members, Abraham Lincoln became president, five became U.S. senators (Stephen A Douglas, James Semple, James Shields, O. H. Browning, and William Richardson), eight became congressmen (Robert Smith, John McClernand, Stephen A. Douglas, John J. Hardin, William Richardson, Abraham Lincoln, E. D. Baker, and John Hogan), and one became Illinois governor (Augustus French). The assembly also included past and future Illinois attorneys general, state treasurers, and state auditors. John McClernand became a Union general, John Logan was the father of Union general John A. Logan. Lincoln, Baker, and Hardin, notable Whigs at this session, died in service to their country.

Lincoln was 27 years old in 1836, and Douglas was 23. This session was the only time that they served together in the legislature. They had first met at Vandalia in 1834. 

The first picture of the title page of the Illinois Senate journal for this session (photobombed with the shadow of cat ears...). The second page is from the House journal, showing the 77-6 vote on a resolution upholding the constitutional right of states to hold slaves and the right of the District of Columbia to retain slavery in spite of congressional efforts to the contrary. Notice Lincoln's name among the six negative votes. Later in the session, Lincoln and Dan Stone published an explanation (which, unfortunately, is missing in this incomplete copy of the House journal).

St. Nicholas Day

 December 6 is the feast day of St. Nicholas, the Christian bishop who died on this day in 343. He is the patron saint of several occupations and is specially associated with the protection of children. Although Advent is a time of longing and reflection rather than fulfillment, Nicholas bids us to show God’s love in tangible ways and to stay happy. I found a site that has this: “Celebrating St. Nicholas on his day in Advent brings a bit of fun and festivity into homes, churches, and schools. His small treats and surprises help keep the spirit of good St. Nicholas, especially when stories of his goodness and kind deeds are told and ways to express his care for those in need are sought. Saint Nicholas helps us remember Christmas is a feast of love, hope, kindness and generosity.” Compelling and "human" as the story is, there is no historical evidence that Nicholas slapped the heretic Arius at the Council of Nicea--although the story is very often repeated as fact. The legend dates from a thousand years after the saint's time. Several years ago, Beth bought me this lovely icon in Belgrade.