ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE March 23, 1938
TO WHAT extent are the German cars imported into this country subsidised by the Reich? This is a diplomatic secret on which the British motor industry and the Board of Trade would like information. Both are concerned at the threat to the home market of the rapidly increasing imports of German cars. Imports of German cars three years ago were a mere 57 vehicles, but in 1937 they rose to 5,686.
March 23, 1966
A Glass stink bomb was hurled at the Prime Minister as he finished an election speech last night. It smashed on the lectern in front of him and a fragment of glass and liquid shot up into his right eye.
Mr Wilson, right, clapped a hand to his eye and staggered slightly. But a doctor said later there was no serious injury. Two 14-year- old boys were interviewed by police. But at Mr Wilson’s request no further action will be taken ‘other than a severe caution’, said police.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Barry Cryer, 82. The leeds-born comedian started out writing on David Frost’s The Frost Report and has written for Bruce Forsyth, Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Frankie Howerd, les Dawson, the Two Ronnies and Bob Hope. A typical Cryer joke is: ‘Picasso was burgled and did a drawing of the robbers. Police arrested a horse and two sardines.’ SIR CHRIS HOY, 41. The Scottish cyclist has a record six Olympic golds. His famous thighs once had a circumference of 27 in ( pictured) — 4 in larger than Victoria Beckham’s waist was once said to be. He said: ‘They’ve won me medals, so I have a lot to thank them for. Unlike my back, which gives me grief.’
BORN ON THIS DAY
JOAN CRAWFORD (1908-1977). The American film star, born lucille leSueur, changed her name after her studio, Metro-GoldwynMayer, said it sounded too much like ‘sewer’. Her stage name was chosen after fan magazine readers sent in suggestions, but she said she hated the winning entry because it sounded like ‘Crawfish’. Her given birth date may have been fiction, too — some say she was born five years earlier.
ON MARCH 23 . . .
IN 1919, Benito Mussolini founded his Fascist movement in Milan, Italy. IN 2011, Hollywood icon Dame Elizabeth Taylor died, aged 79.
WORD WIZARDRY NEW TERM OF THE DAY
flash crash — a rapid decline in the price of commodities or securities caused by automated trading.
GUESS THE DEFINITION Potter’s field (from St Matthew’s Gospel)
A) The windward side of a hedge. B) An area of a field without stones or grit. C) A burial ground for burying paupers and unclaimed bodies. answer below
PHRASE EXPLAINED
Against the collar: Somewhat fatiguing; as when a horse travels uphill and the collar distresses his neck, so foot-travellers often find the last mile, and authors the last pages, ‘against the collar’.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. Robert Frost, U.S. poet (1874-1963)
JOKE OF THE DAY
Why should you avoid people dressed as celery? They are probably stalking you. Guess the definition answer: c.