Francis Julius Bellamy (1855–1931) was an American Christian socialist Baptist minister and author.  He is best known for writing the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892.  Francis Julius Bellamy was born on May 18, 1855, in Mount Morris, New York to Rev. David Bellamy (1806–1864) and Lucy Clark.  His family was deeply involved in the Baptist church and both Francis and his father became ministers.  The family moved to Rome, New York, when Francis was only 5.  Here, Bellamy became an active member of the First Baptist Church where his father served as minister until his death in 1864.  Francis went on to attend the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, where he studied theology and belonged to the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.  Bellamy's travels brought him to Massachusetts where he penned the "Pledge of Allegiance" for a campaign by the Youth's Companion, a patriotic circular and magazine.  Bellamy "believed in the absolute separation of church and state" and purposefully did not include the phrase "under God" in his pledge.  In February 2022, Barry Popik tweeted a May 1892 newspaper report from Hays, Kansas, of a school flag-raising on 30 April accompanied by an almost identical pledge.  An alternative theory is that the pledge was submitted to an 1890 patriotic competition in The Youth's Companion by a 13-year-old Kansas schoolboy, coincidentally named Frank E. Bellamy.  Based on the inconsistency of the facts, some favor Frank E. Bellamy rather than Francis Bellamy as the originator.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bellamy     

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931).  It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892.  Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country.  In its original form it read:  "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."  In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At this time it read:  "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."  Section 4 of the Flag Code states:  The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:   "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.  When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.  Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute."  The original Bellamy salute, first described in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, who authored the original Pledge, began with a military salute, and after reciting the words "to the flag," the arm was extended toward the flag.  At a signal from the Principal the pupils, in ordered ranks, hands to the side, face the Flag.  Another signal is given; every pupil gives the flag the military salute—right hand lifted, palm downward, to a line with the forehead and close to it.  Standing thus, all repeat together, slowly, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands; one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."  At the words, "to my Flag," the right hand is extended gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, and remains in this gesture till the end of the affirmation; whereupon all hands immediately drop to the side.  The Youth's Companion, 1892   Shortly thereafter, the pledge was begun with the right hand over the heart, and after reciting "to the Flag," the arm was extended toward the Flag, palm-down.  In World War II, the salute too much resembled the Nazi salute, so it was changed to keep the right hand over the heart throughout.  Link to other historic documents at https://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm     

Waiting for Godot, arguably the most famous work by Irish novelist, playwright, and summer style icon Samuel Beckett (who, fun fact, used to drive Andre the Giant to school), was originally written in French, as was most of what Beckett produced after WWII.  (Beckett was a native English speaker, but said that “in French it is easier to write without style;” Chris Power argues that his language shift “resulted in one of the more astonishing artistic transformations in 20th-century literature, as his clotted, exhaustingly self-conscious early manner gave way to the strange journeys described, and tortured psyches inhabited, in the four long stories he wrote in the course of a few months during 1946.”)  En attendant Godot premiered in Paris in 1953, but it wasn’t until August 3, 1955, that the English language adaptation opened at the Arts Theatre in London.   Literary Hub  July 28, 2024    

human wandering through the zoo / what do your cousins think of you. - Don Marquis, humorist and poet (29 Jul 1878-1937)    

Muhmmara is a Middle Eastern walnut and roasted red pepper dip that’s all sorts of savory, sweet, slightly smoky, and just enough spicy!  It is almost a cousin to Spanish romesco sauce.  The word muhammara is from the Arabic word ahmar, which literally means red.  This red dip, originally from the Syrian city of Aleppo, this delicious dip made its way from the heart of the Levant to many parts of the world including Europe and the U.S.  You will typically find muhammara served  as a mezze dish with other dips like baba ganoush and hummus.  Muhammara will keep in the fridge anywhere from 4 days to one week, if properly stored.  Find recipe at https://www.themediterraneandish.com/muhammara-recipe-roasted-red-pepper-dip/  Thank you, Muse reader.     

http://librariansmuse.blogspot.com  Issue 2843  July 29, 2024