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How can it possibly
be 2010 approaching? I feel like Mrs. Rip Van Winkle, nodding
off during the celebration of the year 2000 and in the blink
of an eye, 10 years have elapsed.
If indeed, someone had fallen asleep in 1909 and awakened
this week, they would be amazed at the changes, social and
economic.
Our future now seems more uncertain. Many of our industries
are outsourced, we have become a borrower nation and are
much more affected by the political and economic climate
of other nations. In 1909, the national debt was a paltry
$1.15 billion and divorce was one in 1,000, possibly because
as yet, women did not have the vote.
In 1909, the average life expectancy was 47 years, only
14 percent of the homes had a bathtub, and a mere 8 percent
a telephone.
The first model T Ford rolled off the assembly line and
cost $850 (quite a bit of money since the average wage was
22 cents an hour). A postage stamp was 2 cents, milk 37
cents a gallon, eggs cost 14 cents a dozen and coffee was
15 cents a pound.
None of the following had been invented yet: canned beer,
zippers, toasters, Band-Aids, hair dryers, traffic lights,
penicillin, ballpoint pens, nylon stockings or disposable
diapers.
Teddy Roosevelt was the president, clothes for the family
were still made at home, and women wore long skirts and
high-button shoes. Two very popular songs were “In
My Merry Oldsmobile” and “In the Shade of the
Old Apple Tree.”
More than 95 percent of all births took place at home,
which was probably a good thing, as most of the doctors
had no college education and hospitals were notoriously
unsafe. The leading causes of death were pneumonia and influenza,
tuberculosis, heart disease and stroke.
Only 6 percent of Americans graduated from high school,
but 18 percent of households had at least one full-time
servant. The American flag had 45 stars, and 95 percent
of the taxes we now pay did not exist.
Football and basketball had not really caught on, but baseball
was already popular and most small towns had competitive
leagues. The song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
was first heard in 1909, and critics of that newfangled
invention, the airplane, were convinced it would remain
a racing machine for gilded youth.
Each age develops its own special slang expressions. Here
are a few some of you may recall:
- “I need a cup of Arbuckle” (slang for coffee).
Arbuckle was a popular brand; just as Starbucks is today.
- “Put on your best bib and tucker.” To get
all dressed up.
- “He’s a bunko artist.” Someone who
is a con man, i.e.: Bernard Madoff.
- “Fetch me my hat.” Bring my hat to me.
- “Dude.” A term to describe an Easterner.
Now, “Dude” is used as a form of greeting.
- “Come a cropper.” To fail at something.
- “Get a wiggle on.” To hurry up or to get
going. Which is exactly what I must do until next week.
Happy New Year. Can you even imagine what changes the next
100 years will bring!
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
