What’s Happening?

Women's Fashions in 1908

Americans continued to see changes as the beginning of the 20th century marched on. In 1908, five years after the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians opened:

— Life expectancy was 49.5 years for men and 52.8 years for women.

— Wilbur Wright flew a sustained 2 hours and 20 minutes.

— Henry Ford produced his first Model T.

— New baseball regulations ruled that spitballs were illegal.

— The first successful blood transfusion using blood-typing took place.

— The comic strip Mutt and Jeff was syndicated by King Features.

A man could go on an 80-day cruise to the Orient for $300, buy a cigar for a nickel, or purchase a two-jointed, double cork grip fishing pole for $1.29. His wife could buy White Lily face whitener for $.45, bake bread with flour costing $2.65 for a 98-pound bag, and enjoy strawberries for $.15 a basket.