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KF5JRV > TODAY 15.02.26 10:03l 33 Lines 1514 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 8315_KD5TCY
Subj: Today in History - Feb 15
Path: ED1ZAC<ED1ZAC<LU4ECL<VK2RZ<VE3CGR<KD5TCY
Sent: 260215/0849Z 8315@KD5TCY.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.24
On February 15, 1903, toy store owner and inventor Morris Michtom places two
stuffed bears in his shop window, advertising them as Teddy bears. Michtom had
earlier petitioned President Theodore Roosevelt for permission to use his
nickname, Teddy. The president agreed and, before long, other toy manufacturers
began turning out copies of Michtom’s stuffed bears, which soon became a
national childhood institution.
One of Theodore Roosevelt’s hunting expeditions provided the inspiration for
the Teddy bear. Ironically, though he was an avid conservationist, Roosevelt-led
hunting trips often resulted in excessive slaughter, including one African
trip during which his party killed more than 6,000 animals for sport and
trophies. However, the idea for the teddy bear likely arose out of one of
Roosevelt’s more compassionate acts.
Reports differ as to the exact details of the inspiration behind the teddy
bear, but it is thought that while hunting in Mississippi in 1902, Roosevelt
came upon an old injured black bear that his guides had tied to a tree.
(The age, sex and state of health of the bear remain contested.) While
some reports claim Roosevelt shot the bear out of pity for his suffering,
others insist he set the bear free. Political cartoonists later portrayed
the bear as a cub, implying that under the tough, outdoorsy and macho image
of Roosevelt lay a much softer, more sensitive interior.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
Email KF5JRV@gmail.com
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