Tag: December 31

The Window Tax

Today in History, December 31, 1695:

The Window Tax.

If it can be taxed, a politician will find a way. And this is nothing new.

In 17th Century England, an “income tax” was greatly resisted…the people considered it to be an invasion of their privacy for the government to know what they possessed (sound familiar?)

So the government decided that the more windows someone had in their home, the more wealthy they must be.

Thus taxes were based on how may windows one had in their residence. This soon spread to Scotland and France also.

Of course then, as today, the wealthy knew how to avoid taxes…and that is why you will still find many ancient European buildings with their windows bricked up…fewer windows meant fewer taxes.

The tax would finally be repealed in 1851. Only to be replaced by income taxes….of course…..

Auld Lang Syne

Today in History, December 31, 1929:

Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians perform “Auld Lang Syne” for the first time on the radio from The Roosevelt Grill in the Roosevelt Hotel, NYC. They would continue to do so on radio and television for the nearly half a century, even after Lombardo’s death in 1976, become an American standard.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine†;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.