In 1974, Lego Wrote a Powerful Letter to Parents About How Gender Works

A Lego letter from 1974, unearthed and posted on Reddit in 2014, has some advice for parents that rings true more than 40 years later. The letter reminds parents that “the urge to create is equally strong in all children... boys and girls.”

Reddit user fryd_, who first shared the letter, said he unearthed the letter “with his niece and nephew at their Grandma’s house” in a box with a “blonde girl on the front with a white Lego house.”

Emma Owen, part of Lego’s public relations team in the UK and Ireland, confirmed the Redditor’s story on November 24, 2014 in a statement to the Telegraph:

“The text is from 1974 and was a part of a pamphlet showing a variety of Lego doll house products targeted girls aged 4 and up. The text remains relevant to this day. Our focus has always been, and remains to bring creative play experiences to all children in the world, based on the Lego brick and the Lego system, ultimately enabling children to build and create whatever they can imagine.”

Owen said that Lego letter was attached to a pamphlet included with a variety of doll house products in the 1970s. The Lego sets were aimed at girls, but the company wanted to ensure parents knew the toys were also suitable for boys.

Here is the letter in full:

“To Parents

The urge to create is equally strong in all children. Boys and girls.

It’s the imagination that counts. Not skill. You build whatever comes into your head, the way you want it. A bed or a truck. A dolls house or a spaceship.

A lot of boys like dolls houses. They’re more human than spaceships. A lot of girls prefer spaceships. They’re more exciting than dolls houses.

The most important thing is to put the right material in their hands and let them create whatever appeals to them.”

The image appears to include a copyright from 1974 and the name of a printer in Hamburg used by Lego at the time.

Titanic Survivor’s Letter Reveals Harrowing New Perspective on the Tragedy of the 'Unsinkable Ship'

A harrowing first-hand account of the moment the Titanic sank has been uncovered in a letter purportedly from a French maid who survived the disaster.

The letter, written in French and dated 8 August 1955 – more than 43 years since the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on her maiden voyage – is from a French woman called Rose Amelie Icard.

Miss Icard is believed to have been a maid to a wealthy American passenger called Martha Stone, the widow of the president of Canadian telephone company Bell Cie. They boarded the Titanic as first class passengers in Southampton as they made their way back to the United States after a long period of travelling. The pair escaped the sinking passenger ship in a lifeboat and were rescued by the Carpathia before being taken to New York.

The fascinating document emerged on Reddit after a member asked for help to translate a set of Miss Icard's letters bought at auction. It describes scenes of "horror" and "sublime heroism" as passengers tried to escape the sinking vessel.

Although it has yet to be authenticated, if real, it provides a vivid first hand account of the night the Titanic sunk. In the letter, Miss Icard tells how even 43 years after the tragedy on 15 April 1912, she still had nightmares about that night.

Page 1: The Titanic Sinking My most tragic memory of my seventeen year trip around the world is the Titanic sinking.

I'm 83 year old, but it is an hour [a moment] of my life that I will never forget. I was in Paris when I've met, through a friend interpreter, Mrs George Stone, widow of an American, president of the Bell Cie, the general telephone Cie, who was looking for a person enjoying travelling to accompany her.

My lifelong dream was about to be fullfilled: I decided to go with her to America. I can't list... all the countries where we have been.

In winter 1912, we were in Egypt; our travel went on to the Holy Land and ended in Jerusalem.

That unforgettable travel to Jesus' country came very close to be the last of them all.

Page 2: Back in Europe, after having been in Paris and London, we boarded on the Titanic on April 10th 1912.

It was Mrs Stone who got the tickets in London, and told me, delighted, that we would board on the nicest liner.

The preceding nights, I had dreamed about death, ripped open trunks: a presentiment, maybe, made me tell [to myself] that I should not have chosen the Titanic.

The Commander Smith, even if he was about to retired, was chosen by the White Star Line to drive this floating palace for its first travel; I can still see him, a handsome old man with a white beard.

It is he himself who helped me to get in the lifeboat.

During the four days that lasted the short-lived [fare?] of this splendid transatlantic liner, it was all about celebrations, ceremonial dinners of royal luxury, the dresses [were] sumptuous, it was a display of shining jewels and of rivers of diamonds worthy of an oriental splendor.

Page 3: Amongst this elegant audience were seven to eight young couples back from their honeymoon: several were not unknown to us, we had met them in our stay in Egypt.

On the afternoon of April 12th, it was a Sunday, the music played on board had been playing on several occasions Gounod's Ave Maria, La Veuve joyeuse, etc. It was very cold: we were near Newfoundland. I had to go downstairs [one the lower decks] in my cabin to warm me up.

A French boat, « Le Touraine », je crois I think, had transmitted « Beware. Icebergs. » But! The president Bruce Ismay assured us that nothing was to be feared, that the Titanic was [invicible? unsinkable].

The last evening was particularly turbulent animated: concerts, ball, festivity. And yet all this couldn’t chase the indistinct anxiety that was still tormenting me.

I even did not change my clothes, I didn’t feel like it even if all around me the ladies were competing in style between themselves.

Page 4: Towards eleven o'clock: Mrs. Stone and I went to bed.

Three quarters of an hour later, as the liner was cruising at full speed, a terrifying shock threw us out of bed.

We were intending to find out what was happening, when a passing officer told us "It is nothing, return to your cabin." I answered "Listen to that loud noise, it sounds like water is flowing into the ship."

Upon our return to the cabin I saw that our [female] neighbor from across the passageway had gone back to bed.

Her daughter arrived in a panic, yelling "Mommy, quick quick, get up it's very serious."

I helped Mrs. Stone to dress, she took her lifebelt and told me "come quickly."

I was trembling, and still in my dressing gown, I took a coat, my lifebelt, and followed her on deck.

Page 5: There I found my travel blanket and my fur coat, left on my lounge chair.

They were to miraculously preserve me as revealed later.

We felt beneath our feet the deck lean towards the depths.

I went back belowdecks to retrieve the jewels of Mrs. Stone [but] fortunately, I choose the wrong stairwell and returned to the deck halfway there.

Fortunately for me, for I would have never come back up again.

At this moment we witnessed unforgettable scenes where horror mixed with the most sublime heroism.

Women, still in evening gowns, some just out of bed, barely clothed, disheveled, distraught, scrambled for the boats.

Commander Smith yelled, "Women and children first". Firm and calm, in the throng, officers and sailors were taking the women and children by the arm and directing them towards the lifeboats.

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World War II Soldiers Express Their Love in Heartbreaking Letter

If you need a reminder of just how far we've come with LGBT rights in the military and larger American culture, a love letter penned from one soldier to his lover during World War II that has surfaced online might be all it takes.

It seems the men became engaged while serving in Africa in the mid-20th century, but tragedy split them apart as the war was ending and they were set to return home.

Ready the Kleenex...

Dear Dave:

This is in memory of an anniversary -- the anniversary of October 27th, 1943, when I first heard you singing in North Africa. That song brings memories of the happiest times I have ever known. Memories of a GI show troop -- curtains made from barrage balloons -- spotlights made from cocoa cans--rehearsals that ran late into the eventings--and a handsome boy with a wonderful tenor voice. Opening night at a theater in Canastel--perhaps a bit too much muscatel, and someone who understood. Exciting days playing in the beautiful and stately Municipal Opera House in Oran--a misunderstanding--an understanding in the wings just before opening chorus.

Drinks at "Coq d'or"--dinner at the "Auberge"--a ring and promise given. The show for 1st Armoured--muscatel, scotch, wine--someone who had to be carried from the truck and put to bed in his tent. A night of pouring rain and two very soaked GIs beneath a solitary tree on an African plain. A borrowed French convertible--a warm sulphur spring, the cool Mediterranean, and a picnic of "rations" and hot cokes. Two lieutenants who were smart enough to know the score, but not smart enough to realize that we wanted to be alone. A screwball piano player--competition--miserable days and lonely nights. The cold, windy night we crawled through the window of a GI theater and fell asleep on a cot backstage, locked in each other's arms--the shock when we awake and realized that miraculously we hadn't been discovered. A fast drive to a cliff above the sea--pictures taken, and a stop amid the purple grapes and cool leaves of a vineyard.

The happiness when told we were going home--and the misery when we learned that we would not be going together. Fond goodbyes on a secluded beach beneath the star-studded velvet of an African night, and the tears that would not be stopped as I stood atop the sea wall and watched your convoy disappear over the horizon.

We vowed we'd be together again "back home," but fate knew better--you never got there. And so, Dave, I hope that where ever you are these memories are as precious to you as they are to me.

Goodnight, sleep well my love.

Brian Keith

(Image courtesy of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries, via Instinct)

Messages to Santa: 17 Old Letter Photos Show Lovely Christmas Wishes of Kids From New Britain, Connecticut in 1949

Christmas is truly a great time for everyone, especially for kids. They express their desires, favorite gifts joyfully through letters sent to Santa.

Let's see what lovely kids from New Britain, Connecticut said in their letters to Santa in 1949 through 17 vintage photos below.

Santa Claus, c/o Stack's Market, 123 Orange St., New Britain, Conn.

Santa, Clase

A Santa's deer

Santa's friend Stanley

A carriage for X'mas

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What Makes Nancy So Great, by Sidney

In 1978, punk rocker Sid Vicious penned the following affectionate note - a love letter of sorts that simply listed his girlfriend's best qualities - and gave it to Nancy Spungen. Just months later Spungen was stabbed to death, and Vicious was the man suspected of her murder. A heroin overdose killed him before the trial commenced.

(Image © Hard Rock, via Letters of Note)

Transcript

What Makes Nancy So Great By Sidney 

1 Beautiful
2 Sexy
3 Beautiful figure
4 Great sense of humour
5 Makes extremely interesting conversation
6 Witty
7 Has beautiful eyes
8 Has fab taste in clothes
9 Has the most beautiful wet pussy in the world
10 Even has sexy feet
11 Is extremely smart
12 A great Hustler

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The World's First Official Airmail: Rarely-Seen Historical Pictures of First Flight Letters

Here is a small collection of rare vintage photos that shows the world's first flight airmail letters. Most of them were being thrown out because of water damage.

First flight from Venezeula to Trinidad, February 12, 1931

First Flight, Datona Beach to Miami, March 1, 1929

From Nuevitas, Cuba to Miami, December 6, 1931

Letter mailed on the first flight of Hindenburg (LZ-129) to Lakehurst, New Jersey in 1936

National Air Races, Cleveland, Ohio, 1931

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14 Rare Vintage Pictures Show Postwomen in the Early 20th Century

These are what postwomen looked like from between the 1900s to 1910s.

Female postal carriers in Paris, 1917

A postwoman in a coat and hat, 1900

An English postwoman in 1917

Parcel postwoman, Germany, 1900

Portrait of a postgirl in the late 1910s

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24 Vintage Photos Show Postmen From More Than 100 Years Ago

These are what postmen from 100 years ago looked like.

A letter carrier standing in front of a mailbox at Mott Street above Park Row, 1903

A mail carrier stands with his Wagner 4-11 motorcycle next to a postal box along his route near Newell, South Dakota, 1915

A mailman in uniform carrying leather satchel and a huge backpack of newspapers and letters, ca. 1880s

A postman on New York street, 1896

A U.S rural mailman in 1914

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Posting Letter into Mailbox: These Interesting Vintage Photos May Make You Relive the Good Old Days

The history of using a mail service or courier service to pass messages from one person in one place to another person in another place has most likely been occurring since the invention of writing. There is evidence of postal systems dating back to ancient Persia, China, India and Rome.

In 1653, a Frenchman De Valayer established a postal system in Paris. He set up mailboxes and delivered any letters placed in them if they used the postage pre-paid envelopes that he sold. De Valayer's business did not last long when a devious person decided to put live mice in the mailboxes scaring away his customers.

A schoolmaster from England, Rowland Hill, invented the adhesive postage stamp in 1837, an act for which he was knighted. Through his efforts, the first postage stamp system in the world was issued in England in 1840. Hill created the first uniform postage rates that were based on weight, rather than size. Hill's stamps made the prepayment of postage both possible and practical.

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John Steinbeck Offers Love Advice: A 1958 Letter to His Teenage Son

In November of 1958, John Steinbeck — the renowned author of, most notably, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Of Mice and Men — received a letter from his eldest son, Thom, who was attending boarding school. In it, the teenager spoke of Susan, a young girl with whom he believed he had fallen in love.

Steinbeck replied the same day. His beautiful letter of advice can be enjoyed below.

New York
November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First—if you are in love—that’s a good thing—that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second—There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you—of kindness and consideration and respect—not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply—of course it isn’t puppy love.

But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it—and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone—there is no possible harm in saying so—only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another—but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens—The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

(via Letters of Note)

Puzo’s 1970 Letter to Brando Telling Him He Was the Only Actor Who Could Play Don Corleone

In 1970, before Coppola had taken the helm, author Mario Puzo scribbled and sent the following letter to Marlon Brando in an effort to cast him in the movie adaptation of his novel, The Godfather. However, the studio, well aware of Brando’s recent bad form and notoriously overbearing demands, were less enthusiastic and refused to cast him despite his immediate interest. Had it not been for Coppola later coming on board and subsequently fighting for Brando’s inclusion, Puzo’s wishes could easily have been ignored. (via Lettters of Note)

Transcript

MARIO PUZO
866 MANOR LANE
BAY SHORE, LONG ISLAND
NEW YORK, N. Y. 11706

Jan 23

Dear Mr Brando

I wrote a book called THE GODFATHER which has had some success and I think you're the only actor who can play the part Godfather with that quiet force and irony (the book is an ironical comment on American society) the part requires. I hope you'll read the book and like it well enough to use whatever power you can to get the role.

I'm writing Paramount to the same effect for whatever good that will do.

I know this was presumptuous of me but the least I can do for the book is try. I really think you'd be tremendous. Needless to say I've been an admirer of your art.

Mario Puzo

A mutual friend, Jeff Brown, gave me your address

Mario Puzo pictured with Red Buttons (l) and Marlon Brando (r) on the set of The Godfather.

Kurt Cobain's Handwritten Suicide Note (1994)

Kurt Cobain, American rock musician who rose to fame as the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the seminal grunge band Nirvana. Born on February 20, 1967, Kurt had a difficult childhood due to his parents’ troubled marriage and separation that followed.

This instigated him to find recluse in drugs and have a rebellious nature. However, Kurt was also very empathetic and emotional, he advocated for the rights of women, gays and other minorities and teen misfits like him, while pouring his personal anger and frustration into Nirvana’s lyrics. His heroin addiction and inability to respond to the love of fans during live concerts instigated him to kill himself.

His body was found in his Seattle home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. Kurt was only 27 when he died and is considered among the top rock stars among the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison of the Club 27.

According to Wikipedia, while working for Cobain’s wife Courtney Love, Tom Grant, best known for his unproven theory that Kurt Cobain was murdered, was given access to Cobain’s suicide note and used her fax machine to make a photocopy, which has since been widely distributed.

After studying the note, Grant believed that it was actually a letter written by Cobain announcing his intent to leave Courtney Love, Seattle, and the music business. Grant asserts that the lines at the very bottom of the note, separate from the rest, are the only parts implying suicide. While the official report on Cobain’s death concluded that Cobain wrote the note, Grant claims that the official report does not distinguish the questionable lines from the rest of the note and simply draws the conclusion across its entirety. However, it should be noted that many of Kurt's notes were written in this manner. This was discovered when Cobain’s Journals were published in 2002.

The note:

“To Boddah

Speaking from the tongue of an experienced simpleton who obviously would rather be an emasculated, infantile complain-ee. This note should be pretty easy to understand.

All the warnings from the punk rock 101 courses over the years, since my first introduction to the, shall we say, ethics involved with independence and the embracement of your community has proven to be very true. I haven't felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music along with reading and writing for too many years now. I feel guity beyond words about these things.

For example when we're back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins., it doesn't affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the the love and adoration from the crowd which is something I totally admire and envy. The fact is, I can't fool you, any one of you. It simply isn't fair to you or me. The worst crime I can think of would be to rip people off by faking it and pretending as if I'm having 100% fun. Sometimes I feel as if I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on stage. I've tried everything within my power to appreciate it (and I do,God, believe me I do, but it's not enough). I appreciate the fact that I and we have affected and entertained a lot of people. It must be one of those narcissists who only appreciate things when they're gone. I'm too sensitive. I need to be slightly numb in order to regain the enthusiasms I once had as a child.

On our last 3 tours, I've had a much better appreciation for all the people I've known personally, and as fans of our music, but I still can't get over the frustration, the guilt and empathy I have for everyone. There's good in all of us and I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too fucking sad. The sad little, sensitive, unappreciative, Pisces, Jesus man. Why don't you just enjoy it? I don't know!

I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy and a daughter who reminds me too much of what i used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point to where I can barely function. I can't stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive, death rocker that I've become.

I have it good, very good, and I'm grateful, but since the age of seven, I've become hateful towards all humans in general. Only because it seems so easy for people to get along that have empathy. Only because I love and feel sorry for people too much I guess.

Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I'm too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don't have the passion anymore, and so remember, it's better to burn out than to fade away.

Peace, love, empathy, Kurt Cobain.

Frances and Courtney, I'll be at your altar.

Please keep going Courtney

for Frances

for her life which will be so much happier without me.

I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU!”

Kurt Cobain’s Handwritten “Top 50 by Nirvana”

A list of Kurt Cobain's top 50 albums has emerged online, featuring a who's who of the era and giving a unique insight into the influences of the Nirvana front man.

The list is a comprehensive melting pot that shaped a 90s grunge star such as Cobain. It includes bands like the Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Public Enemy, Mudhoney and more sounds that can easily be attributed to aiding the formation of Nirvana's sound.

Kurt Cobain

Perhaps most notable is the inclusion of Iggy Pop and the Stooges' 'Raw Power' at the top, an album that exudes a similar anarchic songwriting process and vocal style to Cobain's. There is also the presence of more classic influences such as the The Beatles and David Bowie, which may reflect Nirvana's ability to forray into the world of pop.

The full list reads as follows:

1. Iggy and the Stooges, “Raw Power”
2. Pixies, “Surfer Rosa”
3. The Breeders, “Pod”
4. The Vaselines, “Pink EP”
5. The Shaggs, “Philosophy of the World”
6. Fang, “Landshark”
7. MDC, “Millions of Dead Cops”
8. Scratch Acid, “Scratch Acid EP”
9. Saccharine Trust, “Paganicons”
10. Butthole Surfers, “Pee Pee the Sailor” aka “Brown Reason to Live”
11. Black Flag, “My War”
12. Bad Brains, “Rock for Light”
13. Gang of Four, “Entertainment!”
14. Sex Pistols, “Never Mind the Bollocks”
15. The Frogs, “It’s Only Right and Natural”
16. PJ Harvey, “Dry”
17. Sonic Youth, “Daydream Nation”
18. The Knack, “Get the Knack”
19. The Saints, “Know Your Product”
20. anything by Kleenex
21. The Raincoats, “The Raincoats”
22. Young Marble Giants, “Colossal Youth”
23. Aerosmith, “Rocks”
24. Various Artists, “What Is It”
25. R.E.M., “Green”
26. Shonen Knife, “Burning Farm”
27. The Slits, “Typical Girls”
28. The Clash, “Combat Rock”
29. The Faith/Void, “Split EP”
30. Rites of Spring, “Rites of Spring”
31. Beat Happening, “Jamboree”
32. Tales of Terror, “Tales of Terror”
33. Leadbelly, “Leadbelly’s Last Sessions Vol. 1″
34. Mudhoney, “Superfuzz Bigmuff”
35. Daniel Johnston, “Yip/Jump Music”
36. Flipper, “Generic Flipper”
37. The Beatles, “Meet the Beatles”
38. Half Japanese, “We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love”
39. Butthole Surfers, “Locust Abortion Technician”
40. Black Flag, “Damaged”
41. Fear, “The Record”
42. PiL, “Flowers of Romance”
43. Public Enemy, “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back”
44. Marine Girls, “Beach Party”
45. David Bowie, “The Man Who Sold the World”
46. Wipers, “Is This Real?”
47. Wipers, “Youth of America”
48. Wipers, “Over the Edge”
49. Mazzy Star, “She Hangs Brightly”
50. Swans, “Young God”