ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1598, King Henry IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes, which granted rights to the Protestant Huguenots. Opponents called him a Nantes-ee boy.

In 1742, Handel's Messiah was performed for the very first time. When asked how it felt to have that first performance over, Handel replied, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Halle-lujah! Halle-lujah! Hall LAY you yaw!"

It's Thomas Jefferson's birthday today (1743). Hey, he was a great leader and we don't have a holiday off in April: what gives? Here's some Jefferson tidbits:

• He was credited with introducing the handshake in the White House (up until his time, the leaders bowed to greet someone).
• He appears on the nickel and the $2 bill (gee, thanks guys, don't do me any favors) and invented the idea of the dumbwaiter.
• Jefferson's epitaph (he wrote himself): "Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, of the statute of Virginia for religious freedom and the father of the University of Virginia." He didn't even bring up being U.S. president.

On this date in 1776, George Washington arrived in New York City to help defend a group of colonists as they prepared to walk through Central Park.

In 1796, the very first elephant arrived in the United States.

• I think it was here for a ceramics show.
• Unfortunately, his trunk went on to Canada.
• Ironically, no one remembers why.
• It was kinda tricky getting him through the museum without breaking things, but what could you do: he had a ticket.

On this date in 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded in New York. To this day, we still don't know "Art who?"

In 1964, Sidney Poitier (paw-tee-AY) became the first black actor to win an Oscar. Boy, the show must have run really long that year if he didn't win until April 13th.

It was on this date in 1970, the 13th day of April, that an oxygen tank blew up on Apollo 13 and a very young Ron Howard said, "Hey, I've got a great idea for a movie!"

On this date in 1976, the $2 bill was re-introduced in the U.S. It was as big a hit as when it was first introduced... which was NOT!

On this date in 1997, Tiger Woods became the youngest person to ever win the Masters Tournament. That was one wife and 37 girlfriends ago.