Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-07
EVOLUTION OF FORTY YEARS.
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I ENOLU lIoN Ot FOHI1 1EAtSsS.
Hardin County Citizen.l
! Unless we pause to think Of the
! changes that forty years bring TO a
place, we do not realize the transi-
I ton that is affected. The Washington
| Press sometime ago contained the fol-
! lowing which applies to all Iowa:
| Forty years ago we had many COM
/ mon houses in wild grounds; no at
! tempt at architecture, shaven lawns,
or trimmed hedges.
Then there were no parks worth
! speaking Of, but now there are beauty
| spots everywhere, threaded with good
walks adorned with well kept grass.
/ etc, pleasant places to look at and
rest in
Forty years ago we did not have a
pretty church in town, decent school
house. not a road scraper. or street
sprinkler. or a parked lawn in town;
not a hath room. a single pretty drive.
| hardly a fine carriage or buggy; not
roomy. pretty veranda; not private
or public building furnace in town;
house plants froze every winter. and
! husbands grew round shoulders toting
out dead flower stems.
Forty years ago we hadn't an opera
house, or decen. hall: nor a thor
oughbred horse or bull in the county.
No one could play wedding march,
and how couples could get married
without marching in is not known.
But they shifted. some sway.
Not liberal sermonEwas preached
here forty years ago. but now we're
all thawed out. and anybody is ortho-
dox enough to be entitled to member
ship
Forty years ago we hadn't a hearse
in town. OF a green house. and not
solitary public elegance, nor any pri-
vate elegances. like finger bowls, or
pictures above the grade Of chromos
and crayons. #1
We screen windows and doors to
keep flies and mosquitoes out OF
houses now whereas then we were all
the victims Of these cannibals.
Forty years agn there were very few
things a man. and especially a woman.
could join aside from a church or
political party. Now there are orders.
societies. clubs galore.
There were very few pianos. organs,
violins. etc. that one could learn TO
play on forty years ago; but now in
srruments and teachers are so plenty
every one can learn to play something.
II only 10 play the fool"
II is not as easy now TO live on the
interest of ones debts nor is there the
old time facility TO run ones face for
things All may have a bank account
and carry sheepskin book and check
book Forty years ago folks carried in
their hands. in the streets, no books
bnt Testament. Psalmody or Hymnal.
n the last forty years folks have
outgrown the habit Of large families,
and shed the parasites Of childhood.
viz. lice. itch. and worms. And bed
bugs are for the most part things Of
the past. wholly sloughed. All gone,
with ox-teams. lumber wagons as
pleasure and old style vehicles, etc.
Forty years ago everybody threw
slops on the ground. and wells became
poisoned There Is no excuse for
typhoid fever now as city water is
used pumped from wells so deep they
tap the beds Of prehistoric fresh water
seas. uncontaminated by ancient vaults
and cemeteries.
Forty years hence the changes will
! be more numerous and more signal.
Automobiles and trolley cars will run
everywhere.
A hand-p painted cuspidor will be in
every aisle in every church. hall and
opera house. and a pipe from soda
fountain will come up at the head OF
each church pew. with a IS to ! silver
dipper hanging there ready FOR humid
refreshment from the effect Of a pos
sibly dry sermon
All our streets and roads to the
country will be paved. at least with
! good intentions.
| Life's span will have been 50 length
| ened out that il will he common to
! read. in obituaries. Of people dying at
: the age Of ITO to i25 years.