New-York tribune., 1921-01-23
400 Years AGO
Good Old Days
w ere Mourned
British Newspaper Files
Tell Tales of Impending
Wars and Hard Times.
With Political Intrigue
Turks Bolsheviki Then
Problems Repeated Through
Four Centuries, Still Or
timism Always Ruled

Frons The Tr1bure's Europcdn Bureau
LONDON, Jan. 14.-We of the older
generation, who recall tho Good old
days when all men were honest and no
one prohteered, when there were no
wars and the world was hapnv in
peace and good will, when it ALWAYS
showed at Christmas and peppermint
lozengers were fifteen for a cent. look
with sorrow and alarm upon these
troublous times.
What, we ask, Is the old world COM
ing to? Our breakfast coffee cools az
we read the headlines. Things are
very bad in Russia, and the Irish out
look Is black. There are plots and in
trigues, scandals and revolutions. Our
statesmen arc no longer wise; thew
think first of their pocketbooks and
appropriations for improving the har-
Dor of Mudville, 1ndiana-they think
last of their country. Robbers have
come upon the land, and another dar-
ing daylight robbery is perpetrated.
Stocks are going down, and prices are
gong up. Crime, unemployment and
suredly the world is growing worse
every day. Things were, not SO in the
good old time.
10 prove our point We will invite
you up to the newspaper roo:l at the
British Museum where copies of all
the London newspapers since 1905 are
kept on file. Select a comfortable
chair, switch on the reading lamp. and
ask the attendant to bring YOU the
bound volume of The Times for 1921.
1t is large and heavy volume, for the
odd Thunderer," although only print
ing four pages, was in much the same
form as to-day.
They, Too. Were Troublous Times
We open at the first page, Monday,
January /, 1S2l-New Years morning
of an hundred years ago. But some
now the news seems to have a familiar
ring. The leading editorial begins:
"An article, dated Berlin, December
10, which appears to come from an Of
flclal source, ought not to be pessed
over lightly" The article. we
discover, deals with the sad state of
affairs in Italy. Naples, very much
like Fiume. has enjoyed little private
revolution, and all Europe is very
much stirred up about it. The Times
believes that trouble is going to de-
velop in Italy, and wants Germany to
keep out of the situation. But The
INES is much more excited about the
Cabinet. The Cabinet ministers are a
Dau loI, lHey nave not the best inter-
ests Of the country at heart. In fact:
On Saturday last one of the most
numerous and respectable meetings of
the County Of Gloster which had been
held in several years took place at the
Shirehall, Gloster, for the purpose of
taking into consideration the propriety
Of petitioning his majesty George W.
to dismiss from his councils forever
his present unworthy ministers. Sir
w. Guse, the county member, came for
ward to open the business of the day.
He commenced by stating that al
though very much unprepared to ad-
dress public meeting Of the county.
he thought that the present moment of
sufficient consequence to call for the
avowal of evry mans opinion who had
the good will of his country at heart.
They were all unhappily too much
aware of the present crisis of public
affairs. They must all have seen with
regret the occurrences which agitated
the country. There was of late and
there still continued to be great dis
thress throughout the country. 1t was
the duty of ministers at such g time
not to eXasperate public feeling, but to
endeavor as far as their means ex-
tended to alleviate public distress and
allay public discomfort.
Mr.. Colchester spoke next, putting
the matter even more strongly. "He
cordially hoped that his majesty would