The Wombat File Is Yours to Keep: The Friday Quiz: A European Question

Once again, no time for the chit-chat. We hope you all enjoyed your apple pie and commutations this week. That's my country -- Proud and Free Like Scooter!

James Reese Europe, born in 1881, served as a Lieutenant in the 369th Infantry during World War I in France. His exploits there made him famous in that country and one notable "craze" there was attributed to him. He returned to the U.S., building upon his pre-war professional success as well as his additional high profile during the war. When he was only thirty-nine he was tragically stabbed by an employee. His public funeral in New York, attended by thousands, was notable for what reason?

First correct answer posted to comments wins a fairy fay. You know, that thing the guy in "Polly Wolly Doodle" sings about? "Fare thee well, my fairy fay." It's kind of hard to describe, really...sort of like an iPhone, but made of sorghum and goober peas, but really handy. No Googling, Doodling, Polly-Wollying or hopping up, my ladies, three in a row. One guess per comment, but comment as often as golly gee.

Comments

It was notable because it WAS ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS.

Posted by: boxjam | July 6, 2007 08:44 AM

The priest dropped his chocolate in the widow's peanut butter.

Posted by: herbivorous | July 6, 2007 08:48 AM

(If you know what I mean.)

That's the most clever thing I've read in a year.

Posted by: boxjam | July 6, 2007 09:36 AM

Do I have to bang my Banana-Splits-style gavel?

Posted by: BT | July 6, 2007 09:57 AM

he wasn't really dead

Posted by: bootsy3000 | July 6, 2007 10:33 AM

most charleston dancers at a funeral

Posted by: bootsy3000 | July 6, 2007 10:34 AM

Whaddyamean, you're "curbing malicious behavior" with your goddam "feature"?

Posted by: bootsy3000 | July 6, 2007 10:35 AM

better. golden casket?

Posted by: bootsy3000 | July 6, 2007 10:37 AM

the employee who stabbed him was an armless woman?

Posted by: bootsy3000 | July 6, 2007 10:38 AM

He was stabbed with an oboe?

Posted by: bootsy3000 | July 6, 2007 11:01 AM

they all followed a trail of small candies to find the funeral site

Posted by: james | July 6, 2007 11:12 AM

Captian America was there?

Posted by: bootsy3000 | July 6, 2007 11:15 AM

Let me just say that it was a "first."

Posted by: BT | July 6, 2007 11:24 AM

Mass performance of the Charleston.

Posted by: james | July 6, 2007 11:30 AM

Oy! Already guessed!

Posted by: bootsy3000 | July 6, 2007 12:43 PM

first black man given a big public funeral in NYC

Posted by: boxjam | July 6, 2007 12:48 PM

Dangit.

Maybe the Lindy then.

Posted by: james | July 6, 2007 01:19 PM

It was the first time someone cracked wise about the "Grant's tomb" question.

Posted by: james | July 6, 2007 01:23 PM

It was the first funeral mass said in English.

Posted by: boxjam | July 6, 2007 01:42 PM

It was the first funeral broadcast on radio.

Posted by: boxjam | July 6, 2007 03:09 PM

Boxjam has it -- bandleader and Amy Lieutenant James Europe was already a star in the ragtime-band scene in Harlem before the war; while in France his military band did hundreds of performances and is said to have kicked off a ragtime "fever" in Paris.

Upon his return his band was more popular than ever, but alas, musicians are a notoriously hotheaded bunch (put that broken bottle down, Hackly!) After telling his drummer to "put some pep in those sticks" (I assume this is paraphrase, but let's grant that "pep" was involved), the rebuked percussionist responded by stabbing Lt. Europe in the neck.

Attended by thousands both black and white, his funeral procession and memorial service was the first public memorial for an African American in New York City.

Posted by: lewombat | July 6, 2007 03:28 PM

Drat. "Army" Lieutenant.

Posted by: lewombat | July 6, 2007 03:29 PM

The Wombat File Is Yours to Keep

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The Friday Quiz: A European Question

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