WELCOME to HAPPY TO BE...This is a blog about my love of Antiques, My family, humor, as humor keeps us laughing and my every Day life...I hope you enjoy your visit...Please leave me a comment to let me know you Came by so I can visit with you Thank You !!...Hugs and Smiles, Gl♥ria

December 27, 2008

~ 100 YEARS ~

What a difference 100 years make.... 1908- 2008



THE YEAR 1908 This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine! The year is 1908. One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics for the Year 1908 :
************ ********* ********* ****** The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.


Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.


There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles
of paved roads.


The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.


The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!


The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour.


The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year,
and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.


More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .


Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
Were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard. '


Sugar cost four cents a pound.


Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.


Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.


Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.


Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.


Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke


The American flag had 45 stars.


The population of Las Vegas , Nevada, was only 30!!!!


Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea
hadn't been invented yet.


There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.


Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.


Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.


Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'


Eighteen percent of households had at least
One full-time servant or domestic help.


There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A. !


Just some fun facts I wanted to share with you today....hope all of you have a safe and blessed Sunday....


Hugs and smiles Gloria

26 comments:

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Good morning Gloria, These are so interesting. I was one of those born at home, wonder if that's why I am the way I am? LoL. I was one of those that didn't have running water when I was first married. The day I gave birth to my daughter I was pumping water from a well to wash the dishes ..No,No.. I'm not "that" old, the house just wasn't modern, but to me it felt like a mansion. Oh I'm so glad we've come a bit further. I hope you're having a super Sunday....hugs ~lynne~

Connie said...

Well, my sweet chick, that was very interesting. I truly did enjoy reading about what my grandparent's life was like. Looks like we've "come a long way", huh?! Maybe not for the good either.........
Smooches and happy new year, sweetpea.
Connie

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Wow Gloria! Unbelievable! And what's funny is that 100 years from now they'll publish stats about us and people will think our lives are so primitive! lol By the way...I love the new photo of you! You are so glamorous! Happy New Year...hugs...Debbie

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Gloria!

Love the facts you shared with us! Sooo interesting! We've come a long way baby!!

Hope you have a great New Year!!
Hugs, Sherry

Thank you so much for coming to visit me! I've enjoyed my visit here!

imjacobsmom said...

Just think of the changes in the past 100 years - amazing! I just wish our lives could slow down a bit though. Everyone is always hustling here and there. But I am sure glad that the internet was invented! ~ Robyn

onlymehere said...

I love the prices back then but boy.....I have to have a bathroom in my house! I even like the looks of the cars but on a snowy/windy/freezing cold day I'll take my car that has heat, defrosting, and windows! This was a fun post. {{HUGS}} Cindy

bj said...

Wow...what an awesome post..It was so much fun reading all of it. Many thanks for sharing....
Oh, yes...I am resting today...next week will be full of BUSY !!
oH, and the song playing, SWEET NOTHINGS, is by Wanda Jackson..sounds a lot like little ole Brenda, tho. She was always one of my favorites...in fact, I am going over to my Playlist and add some of her old ones...thanks for reminding me..
xo bj

Anonymous said...

Gloria, your post was a real eye opener. I enjoyed your fun facts very much. Happy 2009.

Hugs..Jeanne

PS I am going to your pink post now.

Glenda said...

My Grandmother, was born in the 1880's, lived to see the advent of the Model T in 1908 and then long enough to see jet airplanes. Must have boggled her mind. She died in 1960, I believe. In just ten short years, man would walk on the moon. In the 1950's she still lived on a farm in the country where you drew water from a well some distance from the house. I still remember how proud she was when she got indoor plumbing.
When I think of complaining, I think of her. I realize in what grand style I complain.
The biggest change I've noticed is the change in people. There doesn't seem to be as much caring for your neighbor as there use to be. Times are definitely different. I would not have been a good candidate to have been reared in the first half of the last century, as my parents were.
Wonderful post, to make you pause and reflect as we approach the coming New Year.

Four Paws and Co said...

GM Gloria! This is a great one. It sure makes me appreciate all the modern conveniences. I had no idea about the doctors education or that Heroin was considered the perfect guardian of health!

Did you see my e-mail about the Yorkie salt & pepper shakers at Horchow??? They're on sale too...

http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=cprod30880001

♥ Diane

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Great post!!! SO glad you got your long awaited bust!!! Can't wait to see it!!

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

Hey, Gloria! I loved this post. Can you imagine?? We are very blessed!! Hugs, Terrie

Anonymous said...

Hi Gloria, love your New Year's dress. This was a great post, loved reading it. I was born at home too,delivered by a doctor that was the town drunk.LOl You mentioned Dick Clark's American Bandstand, girl I remember that so well. It came on at 4 PM, for an hour. I knew all the girls and their boyfriends. Remember Justine and her boyfriend, BOB? Just like yesterday. :)

Love Ya,
Chris

Jessica said...

Another great Gloria post. :) I would have LOVED to have been alive back then...particularly in the 20's-40's. I love the way woman acted and dressed so proper. However, I love my hair dryer....lol.

Have a super day!
Hugs~ J

Four Paws and Co said...

Hey Pretty Lady! I forgot to mention, your new picture totally rocks! You're gorgeous! ♥ Diane

Kat said...

Good morning Gloria. What a fun post. I think sometimes I would have preferred to live in an earlier age, then I remember how much I griped about washing dishes in the bathtub while our kitchen was being renovated and I think "not so much" lol. Thanks for the interesting fun facts. Kathy

Lisa (aka) French said...

How fun and interesting too;) Hope you had a great holiday;) French

ksarra said...

Hi Happy, thanks for sharing the facts. My Daddy is 78 and the world that he grew up in is sooo different than that of today. Even when I tell my grandbabies that when I was their age, there was no color TV, computers, blow dryers, vcr's etc, they can hardly believe it. Is that progress??? I am praying for your little grandbaby, and will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Oh my gosh, I love, love, love your new picture girl... WOW!!! does it ever scream my name.. Everything vintage and old world... girl I cannot say enough about it.. Love it!!! I miss you too girl... thanks for checking out the sunset..are you doing Blue Monday? I'm not sure I understand what she means about linking>>>but have thought about it.. I have "tons" of blue... hugs ~lynne~

Tootsie said...

sort of wish I lived back then...life was a lot less complicated! thanks for the tid-bits! love the bust...now I have to find a spot for mine! lol...just bugging you! it is a good thing I didn't pick up two like I thought of doing! lol
love you lots. have a great week...will try to be in touch before new years. I may have some company for the new year...so not sure when I will have time...but will certainly try!

Kristens Creations said...

I enjoyed reading these and even read them to my husband. We've come a long way! I wash my hair everyday, I can't imagine washing it once a month, and with egg yolks! Yuck! Happy New Year!! Kristen

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Glenda, Thanks for coming by girl..you have to be one of my best non-blogging friends I have girl...love ya...hugs and smiles to you dear friend..Gloria

nikkicrumpet said...

Amazing! The prices sound great! The wages...not so much lol. And it is unreal how far we've come when it comes to luxuries!

Kathleen Ellis said...

WOW! Makes you thankful for some things and sad to have "lost" other things, doesn't it?
thanks for sharing!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY NEW DREMAS COME TRUE!

Kris said...

Thanks for the blog visit.

Amazing what changes and advancements we have made in a short 100 years. Very interesting to read some of these facts.

Love your blue kitchen, especially the cabinets and how you have everything arranged.

Happy New Year

lvroftiques said...

Gloria this was so interesting. My grandmother was 10 in 1908. It's amazing for me to think of her living in this context. She lived to be 106 so she sure beat the odds! I really enjoyed the tour back in time! Vanna