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I thought this was an interesting email I received

Last comment by Burke 1 week, 4 days ago.

THE YEAR 1909

This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine!
The year is 1909.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!

Here are some statistics for the Year 1909 :
************ ********* *********
The average life expectancy was 47 years.

Fuel for this car 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'

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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Latest Activity: Nov 04, 2009 at 1:23 PM

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Burke commented on Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009 at 13:42 PM

All very interesting stuff. The most interesting to me was the lack of college degree for doctors. No wonder people died so young.

dirtroadlady commented on Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009 at 15:02 PM

i love this kind of stuff--ive got my greatgrandpas planters register from 1908-1909 to about 1928 or so and its fascinating reading-except for the missing pages from the depression when they tore out pages when he lost everything and couldnt afford paper- he paid dr cone in 1909 for medicine 6 dollars worth of corn, snuff was 10cents, he paid some guy 14bucks for sixmonths work in 1913, and 30cents for a "telly gram" about a dogs head he sent off for some old boy to see if it was rabid in back in 1918

williamser commented on Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009 at 15:43 PM

I'd betcha,,
all households had a gun and all members knew how to use it so less crime.

water was fresh, cool, drank straight from well or bucket recently pulled up.

hunting and fishing was plentiful, a large part of the meals eaten.

PEOPLE were much happier over all, trusting in the ONE GOD to see them through rough times.

(add your own to above??? )

statesborogirl commented on Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009 at 15:48 PM

I agree with you Williamser!!

Burke commented on Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 at 14:09 PM

The peach trees never had fruit on them.

Your white hands turned brown from digging and scrapping irish taters.

chicken crap squished up between your toes, and chickens do peck toes

Snakes love blackberries

Maypop fights were really fun unless you got hit a lot.

NBenton commented on Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 14:43 PM

We have maypops all over the place at the house!

I'e often said I was born about 100 years too late.

Hunting and fishing are still fairly plentiful...we supplement our diet with venison, bream, and catfish. Nothing better than a freshwater fish caught less than 30 minutes ago and pan-fried less than 30 seconds ago.

And fortunately for us, we live in a 100+ year old farmhouse with a private well. Water's still good deep down.

I have dreams about being a small-town minister back in those days...back when it was about the word and not about the politics.

Burke commented on Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 16:31 PM

Alright!!!!!I finally found someone that knows about maypops. I haven't seen one in years. We use to rip them open when they turned yellow and suck on the seeds. Must not have been poison, I didn't die. Thanks NBenton for letting me know I was not senile yet. Now if I can just get SirWill to try eating some china berries. LOL

NBenton commented on Monday, Nov 09, 2009 at 08:54 AM

Actually the maypop is also known as the purple passionflower. passiflora incarnata

The leaves are linked to positive mental function and teas made from the leaves and stems are used as a treatment for depression.

The fruit was actually favored by early Americans...after it turns yellow and orange, it has been used to make jellies and jams. We have them ALL over the place out here.

statesborogirl commented on Monday, Nov 09, 2009 at 11:04 AM

I've never heard of a maypop...send me a pic plz!

Burke commented on Monday, Nov 09, 2009 at 11:21 AM

I haven't seen one in years. I do remember that had very pretty purple flowers on them.

Burke commented on Monday, Nov 09, 2009 at 11:26 AM

There is a picture but I don't know how to send pictures. Type in the name NBenton supplied. Passiflora Incarnata

williamser commented on Monday, Nov 09, 2009 at 17:29 PM

LOL Burke sucking on the seeds of a may pop,, and you have HOW many children?? Ah the name,, Purple and passion,,,

Burke commented on Monday, Nov 09, 2009 at 18:05 PM

Just one. I was to busy sucking the seeds and throwing them at my brothers to feel the passion. ROFLMAO

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