Church Bells and the Beginning

I figured we’d spend the next next two weeks learning about the weird aspects of the 20th century decade by decade. But first I wanted to talk about this song I can’ get out of my head. It’s called Church Bells and its by Carrie Underwood. To put it simply its about a girl in an abusive marriage who poisons her husband. Its about so much more though. About the church bells ringing out to comfort her. It’s an addicting song. I’m learning it on the piano. 

Anyway, I figured we could delve into history, learn some weird and wacky facts. Today we are starting with 1900-1910.

1. In the early 1900s, in New York public bathhouses were supplied for those living in tenements. Were we really so far from the perceived sophistication of the Roman baths? And how different are these baths from modern day spas? The architects of these bathhouses attributed the lack of bathing to a moral failing, not a lack of ability. Men and women were always kept separate. 

https://www.curationist.org/editorial-features/article/histories-of-the-public-bathhouse

2. Radioactive “health tonics” were used to cure a number of ailments. Radithor contained radium and was used to cure impotence and fatigue among other things. Marie and Pierre Curie only discovered radium in 1898, two years before the start of the 20th century. Very little was known about it particularly the danger it posed. The glow of the deadly substance might fooled people into thinking it could be used for good. 

3. In the early 1900s, monkeys were bizarrely considered pets among wealthy socialites. Personally I think monkeys are ugly as sin (not to mention they might bite off your nose). The Central Park Zoo actually took the abandoned monkeys, probably dropped off by socialites who came to their senses. Some socialites didn’t even treat monkeys as pets, they treated them like dolls or even children, sometimes groomed and wearing clothes. 

https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2021/07/the-new-york-monkey-fad-of-1907-from-fifth-avenue-to-the-fire-department-primates-were-fashionable-companions.html

4. Speaking of animals there was a school for parrots that opened in Philadelphia to touch parrots to speak via phonograph. It was launched by Mrs. Jacob Hope who insisted that teaching “Polly want a cracker” was essential to their vocabulary. A six  month was $40, more if she were to teach phrases in German and French. If a bird can learn a foreign language so can I.

https://www.weirduniverse.net/weirdnews/1900s/

5. In 1906, the average life expectancy was 47. Today it is 78.4.

https://www.encoretheatricalcompany.com/life-in-the-early-1900s

6. The speed limit in many cities not more than 10 mph. I wonder what the ratio of car crashes was compared to now.

7. Over 95% births took place at home. For every 1000 live births 6-9 mothers passed and about 100 babies didn’t make it to a year. Ether was commonly used as anesthesia and that could cause complications in an infant’s system.  

https://www.roadtoavonlea.com/blog-posts/childbirth-and-babies-in-the-1900s

8. Many women only washed their hair once and a month and some used egg yolks to do it.

9. Here were the five leading causes of death:-

   Pneumonia or influenza

   Tuberculosis

   Diarrhea

   Heart Disease

   Stroke 

Today our five leading causes of death are 

• Heart disease

• Cancer

• Accidents (unintentional injuries)

• Stroke

• Chronic lower respiratory diseases

  
  

  10. Crossword word puzzles had not been invented (they were invented in 1913 by Arthur Wyne)