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TIL in World War II several U.S railroad companies sponsored military “railway battalions” to help with the war effort. Company bosses became military officers and 1000’s of American railroad employees joined the effort throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

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m1nNv TIL that after Crassus was killed by the Parthians at Carrhae, his severed head was delivered to the Parthian king Orodes who was watching a play with the Armenian king Artavasdes. The head was then used as a prop in the play representing the severed head of a character in the play.
NX5ab TIL Much of Thespis (Gilbert and Sullivan's first opera) has been lost. The little music that has survived largely comes from Sullivan recycling his material, Climbing Over Rocky Mountain was later used in The Pirates of Penzance and the ballet was likely reused for the French The Mikado.
wLxBJ TIL in 1992 a Canadian lady by the name of Gisele Jubinville patented the design for a fitted sheet that wouldn't slip off the mattress in the night, and subsequently sold the rights for over a million dollars.
16ZdO TIL that “human zoos” used to be a popular attraction, and Belgium closed their last one in 1958.
ppKe TIL of the Harvard Computers. Edward Pickering decided to hire a team of women after his increasing frustrations with his male assistants. He declared that his maid could do a better job so he hired his maid, and subsequently a team of women whom soon discovered how to measure distances of stars.