A friend sent me this in an email so I can’t credit the source, but it’s deja vu a hundred years later. In 1720 there was the plague, in 1820 a cholera epidemic, in 1918-20 – The Spanish Flu, and now 2020 COVID-19 Coronavirus. It seems history repeats itself every hundred years.
thehomeplaceweb 
Which means we’re about to enter the roaring twenties…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that thought! Break out the elbow length gloves and flapper dresses….just like Downton Abbey!
LikeLike
I do not know who compiled this very appropriate composite e-mail or from what sources, but I first received it about a month ago and a few times since. The pictures and message are pertinent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well it must be popular if it’s making the rounds! I’m not on Facebook much anymore, so maybe it’s from there?
LikeLike
I am not on Facebook, but it remains a good message.
LikeLike
Amazing. I didn’t know about the repetitive nature of pandemics occurring every 100 years. I like the sign: wear a mask or go to jail. That gets to the point of it all, doesn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes…..I had to run errands today again, but only saw about half the people wearing masks. It’s recommended but not mandatory here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the poem. Hope it comes true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was interesting Joni – I had seen some of those pictures but did not know about the 100 years apart for these pandemics … thank goodness we won’t be around for 2120!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure it was exactly 100 years apart, I’m thinking the plague was earlier, but I guess it just means the world has survived a lot and this situation is only unique to us, but not history…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well it gives us a history lesson when we are indeed thinking we are the only ones to weather such a storm – it looks like others had it just as tough as us. Maybe even tougher when you think of it as they don’t have the modern-day conveniences we enjoy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was surprised re the masks back then…I wouldn’t have thought they knew that much about how germs/viruses are transmitted, same with the social distancing. Those cities in the US who locked down have fewer deaths, even back then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Joni – I wonder if this is where our current doctors got the idea for masking up? Our Governor extended our stay-at-home order til June 12th. Dentists and doctors are allowed to open up in a normal manner after May 29th. But a lot of places are still not open (gyms, beauty/nail salons to name a few) … still not sure I want to go to the dentist, eye doctor, or a haircut for a long time, despite my dentist promoting on its Facebook page that they are skilled in using PPE and sanitizing their offices. I was nervous enough going for my shots the other day; getting gas not so much, but shots yes. Next time, I won’t need to wear a top with sleeves or a coat, so better … still not made it to the grocery store. I intended to go yesterday, but it rained, thought about today, but the other day the Governor allowed people to gather in groups of 10, so I figured everyone will run to get more food for bigger gatherings. I’m not out of food and with all the storms coming up, probably better not to put too much in the fridge … the heat spikes and volatile weather may cause a power outage. I had a brief power outage earlier this week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting. I had known about the Spanish flu, but not the earlier epidemics. I will confess to some skepticism over things like this that cruise across social media, but I guess the only appropriate response is to read more history.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure the others were truly pandemics, more epidemics or diseases which were always around to some degree. I think the plaque was earlier than 1720? but I guess who ever put it together was making a point that we’ve always had diseases man couldn’t control down through the centuries….and I think we’re going to have to learn to live with this one for awhile longer. Same with childhood diseases. When I was researching genealogy, one branch of the family lost 3 of their 4 children in the same week in March 1863 – ages 5, 8 and 16 – obviously something infectious. Their tombstones are small ones in our churchyard. They moved to the US after that, probably for a fresh start, and I lost track of them after that. We have grown accustomed to science always solving everything…..
LikeLike
I missed this, Joni. I love the last line of the poem—we talk about getting a fresh start in combatting climate change. Wouldn’t that be wonderful!
Did you know that the Spanish flu originated in Kansas?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect in 1869 when the poem was written, they were worried then about the smoke and pollution from the industrial age! Yes….I read and reviewed the book on The Great Influenza back in March – about the army camps and the soldiers taking it with them on the ships to Europe during WW1.
LikeLike