November 21, 2022 ON THIS DAY

FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE NOVEMBER 21, 1953

MANY employers appear to think women are too old for work at 25. An official of the Ministry of Labour said yesterday: ‘It is difficult to find jobs for women who are over 25. Managements consider that by the time she gets to 25, a woman has lost dexterity and she is not so quick on the uptake at a new job.’

NOVEMBER 21, 1975

WITH more compassion than he had ever conceded in life, Spanish leader General Franco’s final words, communicated on TV following his death yesterday at 82, gave absolution to his enemies and appealed to them to forgive him. ‘I ask pardon of all my enemies, as I pardon with all my heart all those who declared themselves my enemies.’

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

GoLDIe HAWN, 77. The U.S. actress, who won an oscar for Cactus Flower ( appearing alongside Ingrid Bergman), also starred in Pr i v a t e Benjamin and The First Wives Club. Hawn said she is not bitter about the lack of roles she is now offered, insisting: ‘It’s a young person’s game.’

ALeX JAMeS, 54. As the bassist of Blur, James had No 1s with Country House and

Beetlebum. on spending £1 million on cocaine and champagne, James, who is now a cheesemaker, said: ‘I’d tell myself it was the duty of rock stars to indulge themselves beyond reasonable limits.’ of meeting the late Queen at Buckingham Palace, he said: ‘It’s tiring being anti-royal. I’ve felt better after I had a chat with the boss.’

BORN ON THIS DAY

HeTTY GReeN (1834-1916). With more than £2 billion to her name (in today’s money) the financier, then the wealthiest woman in America, was nicknamed the Witch of Wall Street (probably after the black veil she wore for years after her husband’s death). Said to be a miser, she wore dowdy clothes and took her own lunch of oatmeal to work. CHRISToPHeR ToLKIeN ( 1924- 2020). The Leeds-born son of Lord of The Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien drew many of the maps for the book. J.R.R. also sent him, when serving in the RAF in South Africa in World War II, parts of LoTR for editing. Christopher later became a lecturer in old and Middle english at oxford University.

ON NOVEMBER 21…

IN 1918, the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act was passed — giving women aged over 21 the right to stand for Parliament.

IN 1981, Queen and David Bowie were at No.1 with the single Under Pressure.

WORD WIZARDRY GUESS THE DEFINITION: Haptics (c 2015)

A) Perhaps, possibly. B) Technology that involves the sensation of touch. C) Having both a cough and a cold. Answer below.

PHRASE EXPLAINED Dog eat dog:

Referring to fierce competition in which people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed. It refers to a mid 16th-century proverb: ‘Dog does not eat dog.’

QUOTE FOR TODAY

IT IS easier to live through someone else than to become complete yourself.

Betty Friedan, U.S. feminist (1921-2006)

JOKE OF THE DAY

WHeRe do pepperonis go on vacation? The Leaning Tower of Pizza.

Guess The Definition answer: B. Compiled by ETAN SMALLMAN and ADAM JACOT DE BOINOD