Today is the 46th annual Earth Day. This year’s theme is, “Trees for the Earth.”

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“He that can heroically endure adversity will bear prosperity with equal greatness of soul; for the mind that cannot be dejected by the former is not likely to be transported with the later.”—Henry Fielding, “Amelia”

Henry Fielding was born on this date in 1707. He was also the author of the novels Joseph Andrews; The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling; and Shamela.

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“You can always count on a murderer for a fancy prose style. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, exhibit number one is what the seraphs, the misinformed, simple, noble-winged seraphs, envied. Look at this tangle of thorns.”—Vladimir Nabokov, “Lolita”

Vladimir Nabokov was born on this date in 1899.

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The New York Highlanders, later known as the New York Yankees, played the first game in the team’s history on this date in 1903. The Washington Senators won the game, 3-1.

The New York Yankees first wore pinstriped home uniforms on this date in 1915.

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Mircea Eliade died 30 years ago today. President Richard M. Nixon died on this date in 1994. Richie Havens died three years ago today.

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Immanuel Kant was born on this date in 1724. Vladimir Lenin was born on this date in 1870. Eddie Albert was born on this date in 1906. Yehudi Menuhin was born 100 years ago today. Charles Mingus was born on this date in 1922. Bettie Page was born on this date in 1923.

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Charlotte Rae is 90 today. Glen Campbell is 80 today.

 
Jack Nicholson is 79. Louise Glück is 73. John Waters is 70 today. Peter Frampton is 66. Paul Carrack is 65. Ryan Stiles is 57. Byron Allen is 55. Sheryl Lee is 49.

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