Sam Houston died today – 144 years ago

Texas Governor (7th, 1859–1861) Sam Houston was born on March 2, 1793 in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He said, “He [Thomas Jefferson Green] has all the characteristics of a dog except loyalty." [I wonderful which ones he had in mind: friendly or threatening, slow or rambunctious?]… Mr. Houston died in 1863 in Huntsville, Texas.

English writer George Borrow was born on July 5, 1803 in East Dereham, Norfolk, England. He said, “Smoking has a sedative effect upon the nerves, and enables a man to bear the sorrows of this life (of which every one has his share) not only decently, but dignifiedly.” [What? It can lead to lung cancer and emphysema and bronchitis. It can cause strokes and heart attacks. And it generally stinks up the place. I wouldn’t call these things very sedative... especially if one thinks about them.]... Mr. Borrow died in 1881 in Oulton, Suffolk, England.

U.S. Secretary of State (41st, 1913-1915) William Jennings Bryan was born on March 19, 1860 in Salem, Illinois. He said, “If the Bible had said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it.” [Now I’ve heard of some big mouths, but...]... Mr. Bryan died in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee.

Argentinean Maria Eva Duarte de Perón, otherwise known as Eva Perón, was born on May 7, 1919 in Los Toldos, Argentina. She said, “Without fanaticism we cannot accomplish anything." [One woman’s determination is another woman’s fanaticism.]... Ms. Peron died in 1952 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

U.S. photographer Diane Arbus was born as Diane Nemerov on March 14, 1923 in New York City, New York. She said, “You see someone on the street, and essentially what you notice about them is the flaw.” [Actually it’s their distinguishing feature.]... Ms. Arbus died in 1971 in New York City, New York.

English critic Kenneth Peacock Tynan was born on April 2, 1927 in Birmingham, England. He said, “Pearl is a disease of oysters.” [Beautiful things can come from irritations... but it didn’t do much for the oyster.]... Mr. Tynan died in 1980 in Santa Monica, California.

U.S. pollster Dr. George Horace Gallup was born on November 18, 1901 in Jefferson, Iowa. He said, “Polling is merely an instrument for gauging public opinion. When a president or any other leader pays attention to poll results, he is, in effect, paying attention to the views of the people. Any other interpretation is nonsense.” [I guess they could be used to line the bird cage.]... Mr. Gallup died in 1984 in Tschingel, Switzerland.

U.S. writer Jim Alonzo Bishop was born on November 21, 1907 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He said, “It is difficult to live in the present, ridiculous to live in the future and impossible to live in the past. Nothing is as far away as one minute ago.” [Give or take an hour.]... Mr. Bishop died in 1987.

U.S. governor (43rd, Michigan, 1963-1969) George Romney was born on July 8, 1907 in Chihuahua, Mexico. He said, “The magnitude of our social problems will require that all citizens and institutions make a commitment to volunteering as a way of life and as a primary opportunity to create needed change..." [You mean we can’t just sit around and complain and wait for somebody else to do something about it ALL? Oh, my!]... Mr. Romney died in 1995 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.