history forest

Today, in 1695 a “window tax” was imposed in Britain. It was a tax on how many windows that a structure had over an arbitrary number, say 10. Since there was resistance to implementing an income tax (which didn’t happen in that country until 1798) this was a way to tax property and then based on how many windows, or how apparently affluent the owner was — because he could afford all that glass.

Theoretically then the rich would pay a larger amount on their property than the middle-class property owners.

What happened though, was that a number of shopkeepers and home owners bricked over some of their windows! And on the flip side, some of the rich, to really show off built homes with as many windows in them as possible!

It was an unpopular tax, considered to be a tax on “light and air”. It was finally removed in 1851.

Click here for a site that has a picture of a window that has been bricked over to lower their window tax.

Today is the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Giza Line on the Tokyo Metro. Noritsugu Hayakawa, a Japanese businessman, saw the London Underground in the early 1900s and decided that such an underground railroad was needed in Tokyo. Construction was begun in 1925 and completed in 1927. It became the first fully operating underground railway in the Orient.

Supposedly the demand to ride the subway was so great that the line for the 5-minute train trip sometimes exceed 2 hours!

The stations are not very deep compared to today’s more modern underground trains, they are about 1 story deep underground. The line is still in use today as part of the Tokyo Metro.

If you follow sports at all you probably have heard about the New England Patriots playing tonight. Its the last game of the regular season and they will be playing to have an undefeated regular season. Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins have accomplished that feat. Of course, the Miami 1972 team had to play only 14 games that year - the season is longer now.

So, what’s the chance that Eli Manning and the New York Giants can defeat them and upset New England’s chance to become only the second team in history to do this? Or will Tom Brady do his job and keep them undefeated?

It’s especially hard since the league is considered to be one that “Any Given Sunday” either team can win. Of course, that isn’t exactly always true, but it is possible.

So sit back, enjoy the game tonight and watch history be made!

Today, December 28, 1832 John C. Calhoun, then the Vice-President of the United States resigned his position to accept a term as Senator from South Caorlina. He became the first Vice-President to resign from office. He first served under President John Quincy Adams as well as the next President, Andrew Jackson. (Does this make him a professional Vice-President?) He resigned out from under Andrew Jackson.

John Calhoun also served as a Senator (didn’t I just say he resigned to take that job?) as well as a US Representative and Secretary of War, as well as Secretary of State!

What is interesting is that while Calhoun was serving as VP for Adams, he realized that Jackson had more popularity and that it was possible for greedy, self-serving politicians to manipulate things, so he jinxed Adams’ chance for re-election and served under Jackson’s administration.

Read John Caldwell Calhoun’s biography (short) at the US Congres website.

Here’s a little longer bio on him, from a site that appears to be in the Netherlands!

Today is the 350th anniversary of the signing of the Flushing Remonstrance. What is the Flushing Remonstrance, you may ask? Well, it was a document signed in Flushing (part of then New Netherland) and delivered Governor Peter Stuyvesant. They were upset at the treatment and persecution being given to the Quakers. Four of the signers were arrested on the order of the Governor. 2 of them recanted their signatures and the other two, Edward Hart (the author) and the sheriff Tobias Feake didn’t. They were locked away on bread and water for over a month until they were eventually released. Flushing’s government was fired and replaced by Stuyvesant’s appointees. By 1663 the Dutch West India Company decided that the Quakers and other non-official religions were to be tolerated. And in 1664 New Netherland came under British control.

Read more about the Flushing Remonstance here - or read the actual document below (it is short enough to reprint).

December 27, 1657

Right Honorable,

You have been pleased to send up unto us a certain prohibition or command that we should not receive or entertain any of those people called Quakers because they are supposed to be by some, seducers of the people. For our part we cannot condemn them in this case, neither can we stretch out our hands against them, to punish, banish or persecute them for out of Christ God is a consuming fire, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

We desire therefore in this case not to judge least we be judged, neither to condemn least we be condemned, but rather let every man stand and fall to his own Master. Wee are bounde by the Law to Doe good unto all men, especially to those of the household of faith. And though for the present we seem to be unsensible of the law and the Law giver, yet when death and the Law assault us, if we have our advocate to seeke, who shall plead for us in this case of conscience betwixt God and our own souls; the powers of this world can neither attack us, neither excuse us, for if God justifye who can condemn and if God condemn there is none can justify.

And for those jealousies and suspicions which some have of them, that they are destructive unto Magistracy and Minssereye, that can not bee, for the magistrate hath the sword in his hand and the minister hath the sword in his hand, as witnesse those two great examples which all magistrates and ministers are to follow, Moses and Christ, whom God raised up maintained and defended against all the enemies both of flesh and spirit; and therefore that which is of God will stand, and that which is of man will come to nothing. And as the Lord hath taught Moses or the civil power to give an outward liberty in the state by the law written in his heart designed for the good of all, and can truly judge who is good, who is civil, who is true and who is false, and can pass definite sentence of life or death against that man which rises up against the fundamental law of the States General; soe he hath made his ministers a savor of life unto life, and a savor of death unto death.

The law of love, peace and liberty in the states extending to Jews, Turks, and Egyptians, as they are considered the sonnes of Adam, which is the glory of the outward state of Holland, soe love, peace and liberty, extending to all in Christ Jesus, condemns hatred, war and bondage. And because our Saviour saith it is impossible but that offenses will come, but woe unto him by whom they cometh, our desire is not to offend one of his little ones, in whatsoever form, name or title he appears in, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or Quaker, but shall be glad to see anything of God in any of them, desiring to doe unto all men as we desire all men should doe unto us, which is the true law both of Church and State; for our Savior saith this is the law and the prophets. Therefore, if any of these said persons come in love unto us, wee cannot in conscience lay violent hands upon them, but give them free egresse and regresse unto our Town, and houses, as God shall persuade our consciences. And in this we are true subjects both of Church and State, for we are bounde by the law of God and man to doe good unto all men and evil to noe man. And this is according to the patent and charter of our Towne, given unto us in the name of the States General, which we are not willing to infringe, and violate, but shall houlde to our patent and shall remaine, your humble subjects, the inhabitants of Vlishing.

Written this 27th day of December, in the year 1657 , by mee

Edward Heart, Clericus

This is exactly what the world needs! A new blog!

It dawned on me the other day, that there is so much historical information on the web. It is amazing what you can find out here. And I also thought maybe I’d enjoy writing a blog - what better topic that something historical?

I guess the idea is to take the day it is, like today (December 26, 2007) was the first performance of Shakespeare’s King Lear. If you have never read King Lear, then click here to get yourself a copy from Project Gutenberg.