Question: who are Crombie Taylor, Lyndon Lyon, Paul Sacher, John Tigrett, Waldo Semon, Ed Peterson and James Blades? Do you recognize any of their names? Let's look around us. On almost everyone's list of the ten greatest architectural achievements in America is Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. Louis Sullivan designed it. The years were hard on it, but someone saved it from the wrecking ball. It is now restored—for the ages, one hopes.

On almost everyone's list of favorite houseplants is the African violet. Many favor the single pure-red star-shaped African violet. But there are at least 800 varieties.

As I write this I am listening to a CD of Richard Strauss's Meta­morphosen. Later I may also replay Bela Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.