1902

Society

1902. Cuba gains Independence from Spain, May 20, and establishes a republic.

1902. Saudi Arabia has her beginnings as Bedouin Warrior Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud sets himself up as leader of an Arab nationalist movement.

1902. United Mine Workers leader John Mitchell leads his 147,000 anthracite coal workers out of the pits May 12 to begin a 5-month strike that cripples the U.S.

1902. President Roosevelt brings about a settlement of the coal strike. While the strikers gain pay raises, they do not win recognition of their union as bargaining agent for their rights.

1902. President Roosevelt works through his attorney general Philander C. Knox to institute antitrust proceedings against various U.S. corporations.

1902. The American Automobile Association (AAA) is founded and will provide members with emergency road service, help them plan tours and work in behalf of new highway construction.

1902. Rayon is patented by U.S. chemist A.D. Little.

1902. Mendel's Principles of Heredity--A Defence by English biologist William Bateson introduces the term genetics.

1902. Cecil Rhodes dies in South Africa at age 49 leaving a bequest to endow 3-year Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford University.

1902. Crayola brand crayons are introduced by the Easton, PA, firm Binney and Smith.

1902. Barnum's Animal Crackers are introduced by the National Biscuit Co.

1902. Pepsi-Cola Co. is founded in North Carolina.

1902. Horn and Hardart Baking Co.'s Automat opens in Philadelphia's Chestnut Street. The first automatic restaurant is popular. Patrons drop nickels into slots to open glass doors and obtain food from compartments that are refilled by employees behind the scenes.

1902. Immigration to the United States sets new records. Most of the arrivals are from Italy, Austro-Hungary and Russia.

Literature

Anna of the Five Towns. Arnold Bennett. British. 1902. Novel. Naturalistic account of ordinary woman's life. Repressive effects of Wesleyan religion.

"Heart of Darkness." Joseph Conrad. British. 1902. Story. The "heart of darkness" is the jungle and the primitive subconscious heart of man.

The Immoralist. Andre Gide. French. 1902. Tale. Effects of rising above the conventions of good and evil.

Just So Stories. Rudyard Kipling. British. 1902. Stories. Why the leopard has spots, etc.

The Lower Depths. Maksim Gorky. Russian. 1902. Play. Derelicts in sleazy flophouse. Whether to live without illusions on one's own strength or to shield oneself from pain of life by accepting romanticized view of the world.

Peter Pan. J.M. Barrie. British. 1902. Fantasy. ...Or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.

Rebellion in the Backlands. Euclides da Cunha. Brazilian. 1902. Novel? Chief classic of Brazilian literature. "Bible" of Brazilian nationality. Defies classification: treatise and novel. Rebels against central government. Description of hinterland: drought-ridden, backward, poverty-stricken inhabitants.

The Virginian. Owen Wister. American. 1902. Novel. Cowboy life in Wyoming, prototype of the modern western. "When you call me that, smile!" First walkdown in American literature.

The Wings of the Dove. Henry James. American/British. 1902. Novel. Woman urges her lover to become interested in a dying friend who falls in love with him. Her goal in encouraging this friendship with her dying friend was to inherit her money. She leaves him the money. He refuses to accept it and the relationship of the original lovers ends.

"Youth." Joseph Conrad. British. 1902. Story. From mature memory, looks back on first dangerous voyage; on youthful emotion and illusion.