Wednesday, March 9, 2005

100 years ago: Inquiries, both "anxious and otherwise" had been made lately to various places, including the Yorkshire Evening Press, regarding the welfare of the small terrier whose delight it was to "make imaginary dashes that betokened nothing more or less than deadly slaughter to cyclists and others in one of the main roads of the city". A journalist reported that the dog was in enforced retirement, although given his previous behaviour it was assumed that he was meditating escape, followed by further depredations on the unsuspecting and unwary individual. In the meantime police vigilance in this particular quarter had been somewhat relaxed.

50 years ago: An advertisement from a national bank was running in the paper depicting an H-shape television aerial on a chimney stack, along with the headline: "If you have a TV set it's time you had a cheque book". Underneath the picture if was pointed out to the reader that if they kept up-to-date by following world events on television, then they ought to reflect that if they were such a modern person they really ought to have a bank account - according to the bank. money kept in the bank was safe, readers were assured, every penny put in or taken out was accounted for and saving was made easier. Also, of course, at this particular bank "there is the inestimable advantage of expert, confidential advice on money matters when the need arises. Nowadays, more and more people are opening current accounts... Whether your income is large or small it may well be to your advantage to do the same." For anybody who was still in doubt as to whether banks were for them, they were exhorted to read Banking for Beginners, a leaflet produced by the bank in question.

25 years ago: The rush of women to become freemen of York, which started the previous September, continued. Travelling from as far away as Scotland and London, 100 women became the first in 144 years to be sworn in as freeman of the city. After years of legal wrangling and research the women, the oldest being an 82-year-old from Harrogate, received their freedom in York Guildhall. They were claiming a right that had been denied to them since 1835 by the Municipal Corporation Act, and nearly the same number again were due to be sworn in later in the week.

Updated: 08:36 Wednesday, March 09, 2005