Too often, I’m surprised that historic events in different parts of the world happened at the same time. Maybe it’s the compartmented way history is taught in the US. But once in a while those compartments overlap in surprising and delightful ways. For example, both Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson met Mozart in Paris. The always serious Jefferson had desired to commission a work from Mozart to honor his deceased wife but was less than taken with the famous composer. He commented about Mozart’s "ineptness and lack of grace […] The gentleman is socially uncouth and frivolous." The more worldly Franklin had greater success. Mozart was fascinated by the glass harmonica Franklin had invented and composed several pieces for it. A pity no one recorded what was said between them. Moments in history like that add life to people who have been flattened by the years between our time and theirs.
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