1899 et al.
Weather should be cooler out here on Alfred’s Porch this morning, October 18th, but warm and humid it is. An early morning email from Mary titled Year of Your Birth lets you type in the year you were born and watch a narrative of some things that happened that year. I did mine, 1935. Then tried Alfred’s, 1899, which wouldn’t take, but I pursued it online anyway and found interesting things.
Adam Opel AG first offered automobiles for sale. In the nineteenth century Adam Opel made sewing machines, then added bicycles, the high wheeler penny-farthing, a popular interesting contraption that could be quite deadly. Their first automobile was the Opel Lutzmann
In 1899 super-cyclone Mahina (category 5) struck Bathurst Bay, Australia with a reported but arguable storm surge of 48 feet. Apparently category 5 cyclones only occur in that part of the world every 200 to 300 years.
Headquartered in Russelsheim, Germany, Adam Opel AG was later acquired by General Motors. Our third car was an Opel Rekord, a two door sedan, called at the time a “German Buick.” It was this color and we bought it one Sunday in Norfolk, trading in our Ford. We loved the Opel.
Opel seems to have a special relationship with Buick, in fact, our Buick Regal was made in Russelsheim.
The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was formed in 1899. A map shows the area and hints at the disastrous effects of imperial colonization of other lands, effects that are still with us.
In 1899 George Dewey was appointed Admiral of the Navy by congress, only American naval officer to hold that special equivalent to six-star rank. Our only other military officer to hold equal rank was John Pershing, some years later made General of the Armies. But to keep anyone from outranking George Washington, congress gave Washington that rank posthumously, with precedence in rank senior to Pershing.
Military allusions for the heavenly hosts are not unusual. Yahweh Sabaoth is "Lord of Hosts" which is high military rank, above Field Marshall, perhaps even above General of the Armies. Art depictions of angels in military garb are common, and it appears that congress has ranked General Washington in overall command, with Dewey, Pershing and Washington senior to Michael Archangel, below shown at Coventry Cathedral slaying the devil. Tass, Linda and I visited Coventry in 1995, and our day at the cathedral learning its history was a highlight of our time there.
Intriguing, the idea that with posthumously creating Generals, congress may have authority in heaven. Especially intriguing after recent events. It brings to mind Flannery O'Connor's line for a used car salesman "anyone with a good car don't need salvation, and this is a good car," and the idea of congress being in charge makes me think I might prefer that 1939 Buick afterall, and zip on across the heavens.
TW
In 1899 George Dewey was appointed Admiral of the Navy by congress, only American naval officer to hold that special equivalent to six-star rank. Our only other military officer to hold equal rank was John Pershing, some years later made General of the Armies. But to keep anyone from outranking George Washington, congress gave Washington that rank posthumously, with precedence in rank senior to Pershing.
Military allusions for the heavenly hosts are not unusual. Yahweh Sabaoth is "Lord of Hosts" which is high military rank, above Field Marshall, perhaps even above General of the Armies. Art depictions of angels in military garb are common, and it appears that congress has ranked General Washington in overall command, with Dewey, Pershing and Washington senior to Michael Archangel, below shown at Coventry Cathedral slaying the devil. Tass, Linda and I visited Coventry in 1995, and our day at the cathedral learning its history was a highlight of our time there.
Intriguing, the idea that with posthumously creating Generals, congress may have authority in heaven. Especially intriguing after recent events. It brings to mind Flannery O'Connor's line for a used car salesman "anyone with a good car don't need salvation, and this is a good car," and the idea of congress being in charge makes me think I might prefer that 1939 Buick afterall, and zip on across the heavens.
TW