July 3, 2025, 12:16pm

Happy July 4th eve! Even if you’re not feeling so rah-rah on the American experiment these days, there’s still a lot to celebrate tomorrow. In addition to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the fourth is also when New York State abolished slavery in 1827 and when the first edition of Leaves of Grass was published in 1855. It’s Nathaniel Hawthorne and Lionel Trilling’s birthday, too.

Whatever you’re celebrating, I hope you’re doing it with friends! Have a good long weekend and don’t forget to reapply sunscreen.