In 1792, the French National Convention voted to abolish the maonarchy.
In 1866, English novelist H.G. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent.
In 1897, the New York Sun ran its famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial that answereed 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon's letter about Santa's existence.
In 1931, Britain went off the gold standard.
In 1937, "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien was first published.
In 1938, a devastating hurricane with winds clocked at more than 180 mph struck parts of New York and New England with little warning, causing widespread damage and claiming more than 600 lives.
-- part contents for background part 16
----- text -----
Actor Larry Hagman (1931)
Actor-comedian Henry Gibson (1935)
Author Stephen King (1947)
Actor-comedian Bill Murray (1950)
-- part contents for background part 17
----- text -----
"Not failure, but low aim, is crime."
---------------------------
James Russell Lowell, American editor and essayist