Hollywood, now synonymous with the American film industry, began as a quiet agricultural community in the late 19th century. It was founded by Harvey Henderson Wilcox, a real estate developer from Kansas, who bought 120 acres of land west of Los Angeles in 1887. Wilcox and his wife, Daeida, envisioned […]
Arts & Culture
American Labor Day
Labor Day was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century as a way to celebrate the achievements and contributions of American workers. Many believe that the idea of a day to honor laborers was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, […]
Mark Twain: A Biographical Account
Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River. The river, with its bustling steamboats and vibrant characters, would later play a significant role in his literary works. Twain’s father, a lawyer and judge, died when […]
Love in the Twilight Years
“After I’m gone, make sure to find your mother a companion to walk with her through her twilight years.” These were real parting words, though rarely spoken. They invite contemplation and, naturally, some resistance, especially from those in Vietnamese culture where women have traditionally been bound by the principles of […]
Auguste Rodin: Early Life and Work
Auguste Rodin was born on November 12, 1840, in Paris, France, to a modest family. His father worked as a clerk, and young Rodin was initially educated at the École Impériale Spéciale de Dessin et de Mathématiques, known as the “Petite École.” Despite his evident talent, Rodin struggled academically and […]
Old Age: Perspective on Time and Aging
Some of my friends, one after another, are departing from this world. Those who remain are anxious and apprehensive: “When will it be my turn?” It is well understood that birth is followed by death, but what happens before and after still leaves many worried and concerned. There are two […]
Ludwig van Beethoven: The Triumph of Spirit Through Music
Early Life Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 17, 1770, in Bonn, a city in the Electorate of Cologne, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire (in present-day Germany). He was baptized the day after his birth, December 17, so it’s likely he was born on December 16. […]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Birth and Early Life: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, Austria, to Leopold and Anna Maria Mozart. His father, Leopold, was a composer and music teacher, and he quickly recognized Wolfgang’s extraordinary musical talent. By the age of three, Mozart was already playing the piano, […]
Claude Monet: A Journey Through Art and Impressionism
Early Childhood and Beginnings Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840, in Paris, France, but he spent much of his early childhood in the port city of Le Havre. Monet’s father, Adolphe Monet, was a grocer, and his mother, Louise-Justine Aubrée Monet, was a singer. His parents had hoped […]