On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. So, check back often for new editions. To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1918
The city will receive some light snow today. No more than an inch is predicted. The high today will be near 41° with the low tonight about 24°. Today is St. Paul’s Day, the day on which Saul of Tarsus converted to the Christian faith and became Paul. Catholics and Anglicans celebrate the day and for some unknown reason since ancient times the weather on this day is thought to be a predictor of the year to come, “If St. Paul’s Day be fair and clear, it does betide a happy year; But if it chance to snow or rain, then will be dear all kinds of grain; If cloud or mists do dark the sky, great stores of birds and beasts shall die; And if the winds do fly aloft, then war shall vex the kingdoms oft.”
In business news, the Laundry Owners’ Exchange has announced that the price for clean shirt collars will be raised to 4 cents. Also the price for clean shirts will be rising to between 15 and 20 cents. The owners claim the raise was necessary or many laundries would go out of business.
Windows were blown out in the South Philadelphia neighborhood around Girard Estates today. The damage was the result of explosions from the blasting of foundations for a new naval warehouse at 20th & Oregon Avenue. It is believed the workmen used too heavy a charge in the detonation. No injuries were reported.
On the sports scene, in high school basketball this afternoon, South Philadelphia will meet Northeast High at the gymnasium of West Philadelphia High. In the college game, tonight at Weightman Hall Syracuse meets Penn. This is the first time the Orangemen have visited the Hall. In eleven games against Penn since 1909 Syracuse has won eight. The game begins at 8:15pm.
WAR NEWS
German Chancellor Georg von Hertling has responded to President Wilson’s 14 points for peace. The President proposed the peace plan in a speech to congress on January 8. Yesterday, in an address to the Reichstag, Chancellor Hertling stated that President Wilson’s proposals contained certain acceptable principles. Hertling in effect accepted Mr. Wilson’s first 4 points but demanded negotiation on all others with the exception of the return to France of the Alsace-Lorraine region which he declared is not negotiable.
Conversely, in a speech reportedly given in Vienna, Count Ottokar Czernin, Foreign Minister of the Austro-Hungarian Empire stated that Austria-Hungry and the United States are in agreement on the principles of a new arrangement of the world after the war. And that the two countries also agree on many other specific questions proposed in the fourteen points.
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