Revision history is inevitable, inescapable, sometimes salutary. Mostly unpredictable. History does not ask or ask - it goes on its own, changing tacks and marking out stages, and we, the participants (and victims) of its somersaults, guess the changing meaning.
We are reviewing.
When I was reconstructing the biography of my father, who went missing at the front, I didn’t think about any History. I was looking for traces. He was looking for the forces that tore his father from his native Don village and determined, almost like Sholokhov, the fate of his large family. And only as the search progressed did I feel how the goals of his moves and retraining changed in my father’s life. They changed unstoppably - from wartime to a peaceful respite and from the world revolution to the readiness to die for one, separate country building communism.
That is, for the Motherland.
I was told that I was revising History. I quietly agreed. Without aplomb. No sign changes. As with the country, so with my father. And that means with me too.
If you dig deeper, then with your grandfather.
Today History continues to be carefully weighed. But why so loud? Monuments are being demolished! Cities are being renamed! The war is being fought! Not the Germans, for whom this seems to be reasonable. And the Poles, Ukrainians. They are reviewing almost every step (battle) of the Red Army moving from Kyiv to Warsaw and further to Berlin. They reconsider everything: goals, roles...
People who know the war from textbooks are indignant, people who saw the war and remember it are ready to give up.
That's why I was so intrigued and puzzled when I received the invitation to the press conference. In the exhibition complex of the State Historical Museum - in the hall where the Moscow City Duma met under tsarism - the project "1917. Free History" was presented. According to the authors, “something like a network series or a documentary reality show - with elements of historical literature, dramatic theater, series and modern social network.”
Simply put, in virtual space, the user can follow the development of historical events in real time, immersing himself in it. There is no intermediary here: there is no writer or director between the viewer and the characters, no one imposes their interpretation of events.
I certainly like the idea itself. Moreover, the project echoes the “Seal of the Epoch” column about publications in the Russian press in 1917, which our magazine has been running for several months now (read the next material in this issue on page 19).
But I want to tell you about my doubts.
Can Is it possible to restore, resurrect, revive what is gone forever? The press conference participants answered unconditionally: it’s possible! There is an abyss of material. Investigating it within one year, the designers counted on a couple of hundred witnesses. And there were one and a half thousand of them!
What happened a hundred years ago, day after day? They were waiting for the State Duma to resume its work. That the Murmansk branch of the railway will come into operation is extremely important for the outcome of the World War. They discussed the next marriage of Grand Duchess Olga, the Tsar’s sister...
To feel the course of reality at that time, you need to immerse yourself in its course.
But will this be reality or its current version?
I am convinced: it will be a parallel reality, restored in a stream of details.
"The project should revolutionize the perception of history..."
So, another revolution?
History will continue to remain a subject of thought for people, who are also gifted and looking for meaning in what happened. These people will write and rewrite History - depending on how and with what their memory turns out to be charged. Our memory! And from what the ongoing and changing reality will require of them (that is, from us).
History does not know final truths.
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The future has always aroused curiosity among people. It is unlikely that any of us would refuse to find out what awaits humanity after several dozen, or even hundreds of years. Our ancestors were also interested in the same question. They tried to guess what the world of the future would look like - the one in which you and I now live. Judge for yourself how close they were to the truth.
website invites you to look at the illustrations of past artists about our time.
1. In 1900, a German chocolate factory produced postcards with “predictions” about what the world would look like in the year 2000. In their opinion, at the beginning of the 21st century people should not have problems walking on water
2. And every person should have their own wings
3. And this, perhaps, is public transport. It’s curious that fashion seems to have frozen and hasn’t changed at all in 100 years.
4. It’s time for us to learn how to move houses back and forth.
5. Hybrid of train and ship. We haven't gotten to that point yet
6. People see an event that happens in one place in a completely different place. Hmm, that reminds me of something. For example, live broadcast on TV or online
7. Cap over the city. And no bad weather will spoil the mood. Very convenient, but, alas, beyond our control
8. Moving sidewalks in cities? No, we don't have that
9. Good weather device. Yes, we can clear away clouds
10. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Frenchman Jean-Marc Côté and other artists offered their vision of their native country in our time. For example, flying firefighters
12. In our world, of course, much is automated. But hairdressers still do it manually
14. Robot orchestra? Well, no, at least the human soul should remain in music
15. People thought that knowledge could be easily “downloaded” into their brains. We, of course, have the Internet, but still this process is not so simple
16. Due to the rapid development of technology, many children of the future will never see a horse in person. It's sad to admit it, but it seems our ancestors were not far from the truth
17. French cartoonist Albert Robida was interested in futuristic themes and drew several illustrations. For example, this man appears to be listening to music on headphones
18. The artist seemed to assume that the books could be listened to in the library. Well, we have audiobooks, but there's no need to go to the library.
19. And this is what fashion should have looked like in 1952, according to the illustrator
Bonus
In 1914, the Moscow confectionery factory Einem released cards depicting Moscow from 2114 to 2259. This is what our ancestors think the world will look like in another couple of centuries
This is what was written on the back of the card: “Beautiful clear winter of 2259. A corner of the “old” joyful Moscow, the ancient “Yar” still serves as a place of widespread fun for Muscovites, as it was with us more than 300 years ago. For convenience and pleasantness of communication The St. Petersburg highway has been completely turned into a crystal-ice mirror, along which they fly, gliding, graceful snowmobile. Here traditional sbitenshchiki and sellers of hot air sacks. And in the 23rd century, Moscow remains true to its customs.”
“Winter is the same as with us 200 years ago. The snow is just as white and cold. Central Station of Ground and Air Routes. Tens of thousands of people coming and going, everything goes extremely quickly, systematically and conveniently. Passengers have access to: earth and air. Those who wish can move with the speed of telegrams."
“Lubyanskaya Square. The blue sky is outlined by clear lines of luminous airplanes, airships and air carriages. Long carriages fly out from under the bridge square Moscow Metro, which we were only talking about in 1914. On the bridge over the Metropolitan we see a well-ordered detachment of the valiant Russian army, which has retained its form since our times...”
Do you think we have disappointed our ancestors? How do you imagine the future?
Human culture, like man himself, has changed throughout time. Previously, battles were a clash of thousands of angry people armed with spears and swords, trying to stab each other for a piece of land. Now this method of sorting out relations has been preserved only in certain areas of Chertanovo. Basically, modern wars are fought on computer screens, and if there are face-to-face clashes, then spears have not proven themselves well in them - with a machine gun they are somehow more reliable.
The industrial revolution changed everything, there are fewer and fewer “blank spots” of the unknown in science, and accordingly, people’s attitudes towards many things have changed. And even 100 years ago (and in historical terms this is one moment) our ancestors showed such ingenuity that now it seems at least strange to us, and sometimes even shocking.
1. Ugliness is illegal
This sounds like a terrible post-apocalyptic fantasy, but, unfortunately, it is a historical reality. 100 years ago, in many major US cities it was illegal to be ugly.
It all started in Chicago in 1881, when the not very smart, but apparently considered himself handsome Alderman James Pievey decided that there were already enough terrible things in life. In connection with this, he declared people who had external defects and signs visible diseases are illegal. Including cripples. By banning such people from the streets of the city, Alderman hoped to make Chicago a more comfortable place to live. If a person was considered ugly (it’s scary to imagine what commission decided this), then he had to pay a fine of up to $50, which was a decent amount for that time. Otherwise, those who refused to pay were sent to the so-called “poor” houses, where the insane were often kept.
Only after the First World War, when thousands of crippled people returned to their homeland, did attitudes towards people with disabilities begin to change. But in the Constitutions of some states this law still continued to exist. In Chicago itself, this regulation was removed from legislation only in 1974. Society by that time was developed enough to create a nuclear bomb, go to the moon, film “The Godfather,” but unfortunately, it was not smart enough to recognize this law as idiotic. Now this ruling is nothing more than a historical fact, but one of those that draws a crimson blush of shame on the cheeks.
3. Versatile clothing
What is now called unisex style. This may seem strange to you, but once upon a time parents did not particularly bother about clothes for their children. Nowadays, even babies wear clothes that identify the child's gender: pink for girls, blue for boys. A hundred years ago, apparently, this was not so important. Boys up to the age of eight wore dresses. This rather strange fashion trend was determined mainly by practicality considerations. In a dress it is easier for a child to move, play, and exercise. In addition, for a small child, coping with the intricacies of putting on pants and all sorts of fasteners was problematic.
4. Photos of the dead
Now, when there are no built-in cameras except in handkerchiefs, it seems funny that a century ago being photographed was considered a luxury, allowed only to the privileged strata of society. If one of the family members died, then disgruntled relatives would sometimes visit the photographers before going to the funeral home. “Obviously to photograph the deceased,” you might think. And you'll be right. But at the same time, the deceased’s eyelids were often raised, a blush was added, and sometimes even some parts of the body were propped up so that the pose was more lively in every sense of the word. This was done to capture a memory of a relative, whom, unfortunately, his family members did not have time to photograph during his lifetime. One can only guess to what degree of madness the people of that era could descend that they were voluntarily ready to look at such photographs.
5. Animal fighting
In some countries, fighting involving animals is still allowed. More precisely, they are not limited by law in any way. Whereas in most developed countries this entertainment is considered illegal. Their popularity is due to people's natural desire for bloodshed, and 100 years ago it could hardly have been less. Therefore, at that time, gladiator fights between dogs or roosters were very popular. The latter, by the way, for greater cruelty of the spectacle, tied blades to the paws. In Russia, such zoological competitions are now hidden from public attention, but they have their success in the world of underground entertainment.
6. Alarm Clock Man
How do you wake up in the morning? You probably set an alarm on your smartphone. Or use a classic ticking clock with a hammer bell if you are a fan of retro style. What about the completely old way?
In the past, people used methods of awakening that were much more unconventional by today's standards. Some drank a lot of fluids before bed and, thanks to their good metabolism, often woke up to relieve themselves. So they got up early. But there was a method that was much less stressful for the body. In Great Britain and Ireland there used to be a profession called "knocker upper". People belonging to it walked past residential buildings in the morning with a long pole in their hands and knocked on the windows with it. As you understand, this created an awakening effect for the residents of these houses. The main thing is that in response to such a knock, some heavy object does not fly out of the window as a reminder to “wake up in 10 minutes.”
Unfortunately, we cannot fully penetrate the atmosphere of the last century or read the thoughts of people living at that time. However, for many works of art, such as painting and literature, a certain picture of the world may still be available to us. I wonder what people living 100 or more years ago thought about, how they imagined the future of humanity, were their assumptions about our time correct?
At the beginning of the 20th century, a huge number of books were published in a popular genre at that time - science fiction. The authors wrote about underwater cities, flying cars and other strange things. The book editions featured bright and unusual illustrations by artists that helped the reader immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the future 21st century. In 1899, a series of postcards dedicated to the year 2000 was released. These illustrations became very popular, and therefore greatly influenced people’s ideas about the coming time.
The author of the pictures was the Frenchman Jean Marc Côté, whose fame increased sharply with the release of illustrated ideas unimaginable at that time. The postcards have survived to this day, and now we have a unique opportunity to become objective critics of his talent. The first picture shows a machine that speeds up the process of turning eggs into chicks. In 1899, the idea seemed absurd, but we know that it has long become a reality. At the moment, the incubator is not a subject of surprise, much less science fiction.
Robot mop. People have long dreamed of machines that clean with minimal or no human intervention in the process. This desire pushed inventive minds to new discoveries and experiments. It turns out that Jean Marc Côté was right again. A modern vacuum cleaner can replace not only a mop, but also a broom and many other manual cleaning devices.
A machine for downloading knowledge directly into the brain. The artist assumed that the 2000s would not need to study. To obtain information, special headphones will be used, to which the knowledge necessary for the child is supplied through wires. As far as we know, this idea has not been realized and, moreover, is still a plot for science fiction novels and scientific books.
Around the same time, in Germany, one of the chocolate factories is releasing new packaging for its chocolates in the form of boxes with shots from the 21st century. It seemed to the Germans that in the future people would be able to control nature, change and edit existing weather conditions at will. The assumption turned out to be partly correct. Now we can disperse clouds with the help of aviation, but we do not know how to influence the temperature or the season.
One of the most popular themes of Theodor Hildebrand und Sohn's sweets was a person's dream of seeing through walls. The picture shows a device that allows you to see a thief from outside the premises. Modern video surveillance systems with all kinds of infrared detectors and sensors make it possible not only to detect an intruder, but also to automatically call the police.
The Germans also assumed that in the 21st century a way to move your home from a distance would definitely be invented. The illustration shows a huge multi-story building being transported by train. Now there are hundreds of methods for complete or partial transportation, and dozens of modifications of large-sized special equipment have been invented for these purposes. In addition, today you can buy a house on wheels, which gives you the opportunity to change your place of residence every day.
Thoughts about the future could not leave our compatriots alone. In 1914, candies with 21st century futuristic pictures on the boxes were released. The Russians assumed that in 100 years there would be high-speed transport in cities. With its help, anyone can get to anywhere in the city in a matter of minutes. The illustration was an image of winter St. Petersburg, where residents move at high speeds in sleighs. Unfortunately, or fortunately, such sleighs did not catch on, but almost every major city has a metro network.
Inventors, artists, writers and the best minds of mankind assumed that one day people would be able to transmit sound and image. Already at that time they understood what opportunities could open up for humanity with the development of information technology. At the moment, we can see and talk with any person, regardless of his or our location.
I really like to feel the breath of THAT time, looking at old photographs and reading newspaper clippings of those years.
In this post I will try, well, say, twice a month to post the most ordinary “fresh” news from 1911, seasoning it all with photographs of the early 20th century. And the “Moscow Old Ages” program and photographers of those times will help me with this, incl. Prokudin-Gorsky.
But first, a little clarification.
The war in the Middle East, embezzlement of officials, large numbers of people coming in large numbers, and a bunch of other problems. How we all love to shout that “everything is going to hell” and “this has never happened before.” How much do we know about “how it used to be”? No, everyone read the history textbook and some, even more than the textbook. But how many of us know what people really lived like, say, a hundred years ago? After all, the creations of the romantic Blok, the “life writer” Kustodiev and even the plays of our dear Anton Pavlovich Chekhov are the essence of derivatives of their brain activity, a processed substrate interspersed with their thoughts and experiences.
After all, it is newspaper news without editorial assessments and the simplest photographic recording that are the “sources of time.” And we can evaluate them ourselves, without outside help.
Color photographs
An attentive reader noticed color photographs from 100 years ago. “Photoshop!” the schoolchildren who do not know history will exclaim. How so? There has never been a color photograph yet! This is true, but Russia has always had its own inventors. One remarkable man named Prokudin-Gorsky realized that light consists of three colors: red, green and blue. Through color filters of blue, green and red colors were made sequentially three quick shots of the same plot, after which three black and white negatives were obtained, located one above the other on one photographic plate.
To view such photographs, a projector with three lenses was used, located in front of three frames on a photographic plate. Each frame was projected through a filter of the same color as the one through which it was shot. When three images (red, green and blue) were added, a full-color image was obtained on the screen.
It didn't always work out clearly. If the plates were not aligned correctly, the result would be something like 
But let's get back to the news
Let's start with April 1911.
In the issue: Revolution in Morocco, Civil unrest in Mexico, The first roller skates in Moscow, the first successes of aviation, a high-speed telegraph line between Germany and Brazil and much more.
April 1 (March 19), 1911
1911. Yaroslavl. Church of St. John Chrysostom in Korovniki (1649–1654), General view from the mill, from the southwest
In Yaroslavl, timber warehouses have been burning since 9 am. The fire threatens the Yaroslavl-Pristan station and the sleeper impregnation plant. The wind is so strong that SPARKS FLY ACROSS THE VOLGA
On the occasion of the upcoming opening of a direct connection via telegraph cable between Brazil and Germany tomorrow, the German Emperor and the President of the Brazilian Republic exchanged telegrams of greetings.
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In the evening, the chauffeur of the Metropol Hotel car, Jean Cres, rushing madly along Tverskaya Street, ran into a lamppost, broke it into pieces, turned out the bollards and hit an electric pole, which he also smashed into smithereens and broke his car, receiving bruises and injuries.
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A counterfeit coin factory has been opened in the Pyatinovsky Assumption Skete in the Don Okrug. Fake coins and molds for casting 50 and 20 kopeck coins were found in the cells. Monastic novices are suspected.
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From Rybinsk they report that the village elder Kargin, 70 years old, was put on trial for giving the peasants some extra bread from a bakery store. At the trial, Karagin tearfully explained that he did this out of pity for the starving men. The court fined him 3 rubles.
April 2, 1911
1912. General view of the northwestern part of Smolensk.
From Smolensk they report: A strong thunderstorm broke out over the city, accompanied by a terrible downpour. This phenomenon has been noted for the first time this year.
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The Albanian soldier who killed the German instructor von Schlichting was shot this morning in the presence of troops from the capital's garrison. The execution was carried out by the platoon in which the killer was a member.
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Under the influence of alarming news about the war with China, the sons of the Siberian rich are enrolled as stokers and even as policemen, just to avoid conscription. In Irkutsk, for example, the heir of one of the merchants of the first guild became a conductor of the Siberian Express.
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An amazing old lady, Madame Amber, is being honored in Paris. On the occasion of her seventieth birthday, she was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor. Madame Amber became famous during the siege of Paris by Prussian troops in 1870. She showed rare heroism in battle. Mrs. Amber wears a man's suit, smokes a pipe and has small sideburns, which are the subject of her special pride, as they complete her truly masculine appearance.
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Little Russian, in good health, good-looking, brown-haired with a secondary agricultural education. I serve as an estate manager in the south. I wish to marry a pretty girl no older than 23 years old, who would love the countryside and farming. Dowry is not required. Moscow, Leontievsky Lane, house of Khripkova, Sidorova for transfer to the province.
April 3, 1911
1905–1915. Urban sketch. Minsk province. The location is tentative.
A certain Anton Belyaev, who has about a dozen legal wives in different cities of the Empire, was arrested in Minsk. Belyaev’s “specialty” is marrying rich brides. Having taken his wife's dowry into his hands, he immediately disappeared to go to another area and marry again.
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Telegraphed from Harbin: It turned out that the increased movement of Chinese troops was in the nature of a retaliatory demonstration against Russia at the insistence of the Minister of War. Now, apparently, calm is coming, although, as Novoye Vremya emphasizes, there is no guarantee that the Chinese troops, hastily brought to the north and replenished with rabble, represent a bulwark of calm.
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Yesterday the Synod received news that Hieromonk Iliodor, who with his followers held a siege of the monastery in Tsaritsyn, was arrested by secular authorities by order of Prime Minister Stolypin.
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In St. Petersburg, at 49 on Angliysky Lane, the daughter of the Nadvorny Councilor, Zinaida Perova, 32 years old, took the life of the widow of the Honorary Citizen Dedora Koiranskaya, 46 years old, with three shots from a revolver. The bloody drama is caused by the fact that the murdered widow persistently prevented her son from marrying Perova for six years.
April 4, 1911
Baku province, Dzhevat district, Mugan steppe. Pos. Grafovka
In Kyiv, on Kirillovskaya Street near the Berner brick factory, children playing discovered the body of a boy. It turned out to be a student of the Kiev-Sofia Theological School Andrei Yushchinsky, who disappeared from home 9 days ago. The entire police force is on its feet to search for the killer.
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From Baku they report: A search was carried out in the editorial offices of four Tatar newspapers and in the apartments of editors and employees. Eight people were arrested.
*In Lenkoran district there was a shootout between robbers and nomads. Seven camels were killed. Five robbers were detained.
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Kharkov millionaire Kumansky arrived in Moscow, whom his sons-in-law and daughters put in an insane asylum in order to take possession of his million-dollar fortune. Kumansky intends to transfer to Moscow lawyers his grandiose claim against his sons-in-law for the return of property taken from him in the amount of eight million rubles. ...
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A project for a 12-story building has been submitted to the Moscow City Council. Such an American building is planned to be erected on Myasnitskaya Street. The project was designed by architect Kurdyumov.
The recent fire in New York, where 150 people burned, speaks against the construction of such skyscrapers, and the government will do well if it refuses to build this dangerous building, which is also extremely disgraceful to Moscow.
April 5, 1911
Steam locomotive "Compound" with Schmidt superheater
From Mexico they report that the revolutionaries have won.
Vice President Coral, the right hand of the Mexican President Diaz, the support of the reaction, the enemy of the United States, who created an alliance with Japan, is leaving for an indefinite vacation in Europe.
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Moscow cadets celebrated their victory in the elections to the State Duma with a banquet in the premises of the literary and artistic circle. ...
Mr. Teslenko, newly elected Duma member from Moscow, expressed his view on future work in the Duma to the Novoye Vremya correspondent. He is deeply unsympathetic to party discord and clashes among deputies, and Teslenko puts common and friendly work for the benefit of his homeland in the foreground. ...
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Vladikavkaz goldsmith Guzunov was honored to personally present to the Heir Tsarevich a dagger, a saber and gazyrs with a notch of red gold. Guzunov was awarded the Golden Eagle.
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In China, mandarins intimidate the common people, spreading rumors that Russia, having annexed Manchuria, will convert the Chinese into Russian citizenship, introduce 25-year military service and prohibit marriage until the end of the service.
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In Moscow, four young fugitives were detained at the Kazan station: industrial school student Alexey Kavyakin. 10 years old, tradesman Ivan Kiselev, 12 years old, peasant Nikolai Gribov, 18 years old, and nobleman Dmitry Trusti, 15 years old. They all ran away from their parents and intended to make their way to Siberia.
April 6, 1911
. Racing (timber rafting) on the Peter I canal. Shlisselburg.
Following the example of foreign countries, a team of reconnaissance motorcyclists was organized in Tsarskoe Selo. Its founders were famous athletes Zenchenko, Navrotsky, Derenger and others. The team's project was developed by the War Ministry. Its members will wear military uniforms. 20 people have already signed up.
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Moscow has now completed the calculation of losses caused by a break in the main pipe of the Moskvoretsky water pipeline. This amount is calculated at 25 thousand rubles. In order to avoid a repeat of the disaster, it was decided to replace the cast iron pipes with iron ones this summer.
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Almost the entire St. Petersburg ballet is now in Monte Carlo, where under the direction of Diaghilev Madame Karsavina’s performances and tours will begin.
“And here at the Mariinsky Theater, some unknown Moscow dancers perform as ballerinas,” complains the Petersburg Gazette and begs Mr. Diaghilev not to take away all the talents from the Imperial stage.
April 8, 1911
Volga
An anti-Flemish movement in defense of French speech is growing in Belgium. The Walloon League of Brabant protested against the ministerial order requiring Belgian citizens to know the Flemish language.
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The exchange of sound signals between ships gave great excitement to the Volga.
Now, for some reason, the Ministry of Communications has decided to impose silence on the Volga.
A circular was issued banning fireworks with whistles on the Volga. Steamships are obliged to exchange signals established by the rules of navigation, without at all abusing whistles and sirens.
April 9, 1911
Perm. General form.
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According to information from Morocco, the state of affairs gives rise to serious concerns.
Sultan Moulay-Gafid stubbornly does not want to part with the Grand Vizier and other courtiers, who caused an uprising of the tribes with exorbitant extortions.
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An exhibition of samples of concrete-sand products produced by a new local concrete-sand plant has been opened in Simbirsk. Marble stair steps, slabs for floors and sidewalks, hollow stone - all this is in great fashion and is viewed with attention by the public.
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The Mexican insurgent leader Maderos issued an ultimatum to Diaz, demanding that he renounce the presidency, appoint a provisional government and leave the country. The provisional government, in turn, must call new elections.
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In Simferopol, the local clergy refused to consecrate the new building of the city club. They say the refusal followed the orders of Bishop Feofan, who stated that “the club is an obscene institution.”
