[oh8eleven]

October 1869 ... East 12th Street
In 1869, my gg-grandparents lived half a mile away on East 2nd Street w/ their six kids.
While doing my family research I was stunned at the amount of poverty (real poverty, not today's pseudo-poverty), disease, infant mortality, filth, crime, etc., that overwhelmed city dwellers.
How my ancestors survived and I ended up eventually being born is truly a miracle.

[muawiyah]

Back when Dr. Cantor was doing his studies in preparation for his book on The History of Venice, he and others looked into the reasons behind Venice's 25 years of residency requirement for citizenship.

Turns out almost everybody who was a citizen was born somewhere else. Further, life spans were short, so most of the people weren't even citizens so it wasn't a big issue ~ the Doge was elected for life anyway.

The city had few children ~ the maternal death rate was nearly 100%. Wealthy people would make sure their pregnant women were out in villages, and the children would be raised by peasants in a healthy atmosphere.

Venice, for most of 7 centuries, was the best place to live in all of Europe!

[Gay State Conservative]

How my ancestors survived and I ended up eventually being born is truly a miracle.

My great grandparents on my father's side grew up poor and Irish during the mid-late 1800's in the slums of Boston.Back then,the Irish of Boston were the "n words" of the day in every sense,discriminated against ("no Irish need apply",employers would announce at the front door/gate),sick,usually with 8+ kids many of whom didn't live to adulthood.My father's father was the only one of 8 kids to live to adulthood,the others all died of TB (also known as "consumption" back then).And his father died of TB at 52.

These letters have brought tears to my eyes.I've said a little prayer asking God to bless those kids,their parents,and the nuns who took them in and did their best to help them.With all the ugly things being said about the Catholic Church today it must be noted that it's done far,far more good in this world than harm.

[HamiltonJay]

Western Civilization and the modern world it has created is completely unappreciated by at least 99% of those who live in it.

Cities were festering cesspools until very very recently, throughout human history, and still are in many parts of the world.

[HamiltonJay]

Western Civilization and the modern world it has created is completely unappreciated by at least 99% of those who live in it.

Cities were festering cesspools until very very recently, throughout human history, and still are in many parts of the world.

[HamiltonJay]

Western Civilization and the modern world it has created is completely unappreciated by at least 99% of those who live in it.

Cities were festering cesspools until very very recently, throughout human history, and still are in many parts of the world.