Smile for Today:

An old literary and military tale has it that Edgar Allan Poe was expelled from West Point in 1831 for "gross neglect of duty" because he appeared naked at a public parade. Parade dress instructions called for "white belts and gloves, under arms." Poe took this literally and appeared with rifle over his bare shoulder, wearing belt and gloves ~ and nothing else.

As a reader pointed out, we missed recognizing Poe's birthday on January 19. We offer the above anecdote in his honour.

Source: THE LITTLE, BROWN BOOK OF Anecdotes, General Editor, Clifton Fadiman, 1985.