Did You Know That One Hundred Years Ago....

Judy Ramsook
As the year of 2009 winds down, many of us will be remembering things that happened to us this year. If some of those things were good, then a smile might escape your lips as you let your mind wander.

But what if someone sent you an email with statistics from 1909, a hundred years ago. If those statistics moved you in one way or another, wouldn´t you want to share it with members of the world who may not have received such an email?

I thought I might share the list I got with those who did not get this email. Here is the list. Keep in mind this was the year 1909.

The average life expectancy was 47 years.

fuel for the 1909 Ford Model R was sold in drug stores only

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 1909 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 iced 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 and

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'

( Shocking? DUH! )

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.!

Plus one more sad thought; 95 percent of the taxes we have now did not exist in 1909
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Judy Ramsook

Born and raised in the twin island nation of Trinidad & Tobago, Judy Ramsook came to the US in the mid eighties where she attended San Antonio College and the University Of Texas At San Antonio.

In November 2004, she published her first book, Karen's Adventure which is available on amazon.com, www.buy.com and www.bn.com just to name a few of the sites where it can be purchased. You can read an excerpt from it at: publishedauthors.net.

Since then she has written a sequel, or part two to Karen's Adventure which is available on amazon.com as an Amazon Short work.
She also writes tourist related blogs for:www.hotelsbycity.net/san antonio_blog_usa and has a blog at:ramsook.wordpress.com Send comments to: judyramsook@gmail.com

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