CHRISTMAS 100 YEARS AGO

Christmas time in 1912 was just a little different than today.

• An avid conservationist, President Teddy Roosevelt banned Christmas trees in the White House.

• The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.

• 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 average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.

• The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

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

• More than 95 percent of all births took place at home.

• 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.

• The 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.

• Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

• There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.

(Interprep)