Our members are terribly clever and know big words!

The History and Heritage Committee has challenged NPC members to a limerick contest using "sesquicentennial."

In The Wire's inbox today, your entertained editors found this submission from Joyce Winslow:

The date of our country’s civil war
Is a hundred fifty years from our door.
This sesquicentennial
Proves democracy perennial
E pluribus unum evermore!

If you think you can do better -- or even if you can't -- enter the competition. Submit entries to the editor of The Wire at [email protected]. The winner will be chosen by Harold Holzer, the great Abraham Lincoln and Civil War historian who will be the speaker at a Club book and author event April 11. Holzer will be discussing his latest book on The New York Times' coverage of the Civil War. The prize to the winner of the limerick challenge is a copy of Holzer's book. The History & Heritage Committee and the Book and Author Committee are jointly sponsoring the event.