I subscribe to a great little magazine from the Languedoc, Blablablah. Here’s some interesting “French Firsts” from that column:
— You know how bullets (and other stuff) ricochet? Well that’s Monsieur Marc-Antoine Ricochet (1779 – 1846), “famous for his ability to hit a target by reboudning the shot from a nearby surface.” Napolean especially appreciated Ricochet’s ability: Ricochet was a sharpshooter in the Battle of Trafalgar.
— How about the haversack, those backpack-type bags we carry? Monsieur Emil Haversack, postman, was born in Strasbourg, France in 1819. “He created a round drum that he wore on his back to carry the post. His haversack concept spread around
Merci Blablablah. Like you lots. Makes Tom and me want to spend even more time chez vous.
