Here are 5 news stories from around the world 100 years ago.
What was happening in the world one hundred years ago?
Number 5 – Washing windows on tall buildings takes courage but at least there is safety equipment today. Back in 1913, courage was all you had. A janitor at the Newark Post Office tower climbed out on a 12 inch ledge to clean the window when it slid closed. Not able to force it open, the man tried yelling and banging on the window, to no avail. Fortunately he remembered the pencil and paper in his pocket, and wrote a note that said, “For God’s sake, send me help or I’ll drop.” By chance, a passerby 100 feet below on Broad Street saw the fluttering note and the man on the ledge. He was able to alert authorities to rescue the janitor.
Number 4 – A mother and son left on June 10, 1911 and set sail for England with their 4-cyclinder automobile. The adventurous family drove through England and most of Europe before sailing to India. From there, they continued through China, Japan and the Philippines before returning to the United States, and traveled from California through Mexico and back to New York City.
Number 3 – Even a hundred years ago businesses were trying to get you to buy on credit. An advertisement by Landay Brothers stores for Victrola record players offered deferred payment plans for the purchase of their machines that cost anywhere from 15 dollars to 200 dollars. At least there wasn’t any interest charged.
Number 2 – Members of the Senate decided that the public inaugural reception should not take place for President Woodrow Wilson. Among the reasons for cancelling the event was it would physically take a toll on the President by having to travel to the Capitol and shake hands with an estimated 50 thousand to 100 thousand people. The Senate also referred to the disorder of President Jackson’s reception where they had to throw some unruly people out of the windows of the White House.
Number 1 – Back when writing letters was one of the main forms of communication between a man and a woman, what was written was taken seriously. A Hoboken physician was taken to court by a young woman for breaching a promise, made through a letter, to give her a thousand kisses. The jury decided in twenty minutes that the doctor was guilty and awarded the young lady 500 dollars….50 cents for each kiss.
