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81

TIL that Sojourner Truth, famous for her escape from slavery and her work as an abolitionist, was actually from New York state, and spoke Dutch as her first language.

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78k8p TIL that following Denmark's defeat in the Second Schleswig War, Christian IX offered that all of Denmark become part of the German confederation and thus Denmark remain united with Schleswig and Holstein. This proposal was rejected by Bismarck.
1JKD TIL Hunter S. Thompson typed out The Great Gatsby in its entirety several times so he would know what it felt like to write a masterpiece
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mj8p TIL for over 18 years a Japanese composer pretended to be deaf and paid a ghostwriter to compose his music. Time magazine called him a “digital-age Beethoven”.
b6Xya TIL Ernest Hemingway was a regular customer of Abercrombie & Fitch; the gun with which he committed suicide in 1961 was purchased from them. Following Hemingway's death, his wife placed several of his guns on consignment with the company.