On the Cusp of Two Centuries

What People Were Thinking About In St. Petersburg a Hundred Years Ago?

photo year 1900

        /Nedelya, ¹ 52, 1900, "The End of a Century"/
        "…The past year was not marked by an increase in legislative or public activities, but lots of fruits of the past have ripened to turn into numerous disappointments and troubles of the future."

        /Nedelya, ¹ 1, 1900/
         "…Where are we going? What has been aroused in mankind during the past epoch? What hopes and horizons have unfolded before people? What authorities in different spheres of activity will our nation be attracted by? What has the future century prepared for us?"

        /Nedelya, ¹ 1, 1900./
         "…Today's tasks are pressing, important and interesting, but the human spirit may be exhausted by sinking too deeply into them… Is it not good time to think of eternal interests and eternal laws? Is it not high time to wish the laws of justice, human dignity, and freedom placed in the centre of public attention?"

        /Novoye Vremya, ¹ 1, 1900/
        "… Nobody except irremediable sceptics doubts, that, like its predecessors, the 20th century will enrich mankind with new discoveries, ideas, and events. As to ourselves, we also may have time to experience something new and good at the new century's beginning. We shall better not make any calculations - better let the new century begin a year earlier than a year later. And a hundred years later, in 2000, our progeny may again discuss whether they are to celebrate the 3rd millennium in 2000 or in 2001. And probably they will prefer a round figure to the figure finishing with number 1."

        /Novoye Vremya, ¹ 1, January 1 (13), 1900 The New Year and the New Century/
        "…Today at midnight or a year later we are stepping into the new era, but it is desirable for us to step into it as soon as possible. It is desirable that love masters everything, and that the most important lessons of the past century be fully comprehended and people see their tragic mistakes…
        …Now let us go forward hand in hand, sure of our success in our common strivings for truth, peace, and brotherhood between nations. Let us achieve overall education, well-being, and freedom of labor to prove to ourselves and other peoples that we are a rich and powerful nation on Earth."