Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

With benefit of hindsight, we know that World War I was looming in Europe.

Yet only a few months before its start, the world’s crisis spots appeared to be elsewhere. For months, the front page headlines in The Spokesman-Review had been about the increasing tensions in Mexico. The civil war was increasingly threatening to involve the U.S. 

The other big international trouble spot was Ireland, where tensions were escalating over home rule.

There was almost no attention paid to the prospect of trouble in Germany, Austria or the Balkans. Yet by the summer of 1914, this is where the crisis would erupt that would eventually engulf most of the world, including the U.S.

From the tourist beat: A front page story trumpeted a new service that the soon-to-be-completed Davenport Hotel was planning to offer: A “valet department.”

The hotel was offering to supply guests with the clothing they needed for a variety of activities, including fishing, golfing and full-dress formal functions.

If a traveler decided, for instance, to go fishing, he could call the valet department and soon have loan of hip boots, a slouch hat and even rods and tackle. 

The same concept applied to full-dress banquet wear.

“The idea, it is thought, will prove a boon to the traveling public, most of whom do not carry their dress togs with them,” the paper said.