TIMES HAS INDEED CHANGED................................


THE YEAR 1903

Bob Hope recently died at the age of 100. It's time to revisit where we
were a century ago. This ought to boggle your mind.

The year is 1903, one hundred years ago... what a difference a century
makes. Here are the U. S. statistics for 1903....

The average life expectancy in the US was 47.

Only 14% of the homes in the US had a BATHTUB.

Only 8% of the homes had a TELEPHONE.

A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11.

There were only 8,000 CARS in the US and only 144 miles of paved ROADS.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily
populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California
was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

The average wage in the US was $0.22/hour.

The average US worker made between $200-$400/year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000/year, a dentist
$2,500/year, a veterinarian between $1,500-$4,000/year, and a mechanical
engineer about $5,000/year.

More than 95% of all BIRTHS in the US took place at HOME.

90% of all US physicians had NO COLLEGE education. Instead, they
attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press
and by the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost $0.04/pound. Eggs were $0.14/dozen.

Coffee cost $0.15/pound.

Most women only washed their HAIR once a month and used BORAX
or EGG YOLKS for shampoo.

Canada passed a law prohibiting POOR people from entering the country for
any reason.

The five leading causes of death in the US were:
1. Pneumonia &influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Hawaii and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30.

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

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

One in ten US adults couldn't read or write.

Only 6% of all Americans had graduated from HIGH SCHOOL.

Coca Cola contained cocaine.

Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the counter
at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears
the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach
and the bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."

18% of households in the US had at least one full-time SERVANT or domestic.

There were only about 230 reported MURDERS in the entire US.

How things have changed.

Email: TruthOnWeb@aol.com

Canada passed a law prohibiting POOR people from entering the country for
any reason.

And what was the penalty? A fine? Three hots and a cot?

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

Oddly, a toy similar to the yoyo was used to pass the time. Called "the button" it was a coat button on strands of thread which was wound tight, and then allowed to unwind/wind using a manual technique. You could cause it to resonate with the right techique. Whoopee!

Coca Cola contained cocaine.

The reason soft drinks contain caffeine is because cocaine was outlawed. Caffeine is a mild central nervous system stimulant, causing a similar (but more mild) physiological effect in the body.

Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."

Bayer Asprin marketed heroin as a cure for morphine addiction. Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is a semisynthetic derivitative of morphine, and is about 2.5x as potent as morphine.

How things have changed.

In an ironic catch-22, things have worsened while they improved.

Yes, it seems that some things get better & others get worse. It also get better for some & worse for others & vicy/vercy.
Now it is indeed the best of times & the worst of times. May Father bless us to keep it so for a while longer!

Peace be With You All,
seeker