I Am Not Throwing Away My Shot; What If I Need To Light A Candle?

[rionaleonhart]

It's time for another Hamilton-themed history lesson!

Through a comment from

Comments

[denorios]

Oh Hamilton. He really did not know when to shut up. Who else would be all, goddammit, I am not corrupt, I'm just having an affair, see?

[rionaleonhart]

He's such a ridiculous man! (And, hey, you loved him before it was cool.)

[denorios]

It makes me very happy that everyone loves him now. Even if it's more musical!Hamilton than historical!Hamilton - he's still getting love and attention!

[wolfy_writing]

AARON BURR, HOW ARE YOU REAL?

"So I was going to get a sensible night's sleep, but I had some tea, so I was too wired, and around midnight I decided to light a candle and stay up reading, only candles are hard to light, so I decided to use my gun, luckily checking it for bullets, and long story short, everything ended up on fire, and I ended up awake until 5 am reading and smoking in bed, because clearly there hasn't been enough fire. My big mistake of the night? Drinking a cup of tea before bed!"

I would watch the hell out of that sitcom, even as it spiraled into the recursive spiral of Hamilton's hundred-page pamphlets about how Burr needed to stop using his gun to destroy Hamilton's hundred-page pamphlets about how Burr needed to stop using his gun to destroy Hamilton's hundred-page pamphlets...

[rionaleonhart]

It's an extraordinary story. I love that he had enough presence of mind to go 'better make sure this isn't loaded' and yet not enough to go 'actually, is it a great idea to light this candle with a gun at all?' And I end the story with the impression that he might well try it again in the future, going, 'Well, clearly the only problem with this plan last time was that I used too much powder...'

[wolfy_writing]

I love how "Possibly not using guns and explosives to deal with difficult candles" did not really occur to him, but "Tea before bedtime, a terrible idea!" clearly did. GOOD PRIORITIES, BURR!

He was totally considering how to make it work next time. I never thought I'd say this, but Aaron Burr had the makings of a good Top Gear presenter.

[rionaleonhart]

I never thought I'd say this, but Aaron Burr had the makings of a good Top Gear presenter.

I was thinking exactly that! I had the vague feeling I'd forgotten to say something in this entry, and it was that.

[littlered2]

Oh, Burr. His diaries make it sound like he does nothing but lose his possessions and sleep around; I have no idea how he managed to become Vice-President.

[rionaleonhart]

Well, he technically managed to become vice-president by failing to become president, and he certainly does seem like a man who could manage that.

[dracothelizard]

If I've learned anything from Horrible Histories, it's that history is hilarious and why do we not have Historical Darwin Awards?

[rionaleonhart]

why do we not have Historical Darwin Awards?

An excellent question! I feel Burr would get an honourable mention for the candle incident.