On this day in ...... 1620, more than 3 dozen men, who had sailed across the Atlantic with their families on "a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia," signed the Mayflower Compact, on the ship of the same name depicted at left, at Cape Cod in what is now the state of Massachusetts. (image credit) By this agreement they pledged, in words not unlike those of American declarations that would follow, to
covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; ....
... 1858 (150 years ago today), Maria Konstantinovna Bashkirtseva was born to a wealthy and noble family in what is now Ukraine.
She traveled widely and studied painting at 1 of the few French academies that accepted women; in the 1881 painting at right, she depicted herself, seated in the center, at her studio. (credit) The woman best known as Marie Bashkirtseff is most famous for the journal she began to keep at age 13. Published as I Am the Most Interesting Book of All, it's still in print today. Under the nom de plume Pauline Orrel, she wrote for La Citoyenne, the feminist newspaper published by Hubertine Auclert. Bashkirtseff died at age 25 from tuberculosis Among her notable quotes:'Let us love dogs, let us love only dogs! Men and cats are unworthy creatures.'
