Saturday, January 2, 2021

It is Saturday, January 2, 1875. The weather is brisk in Canton today. Young John Livelar opens a copy of the local weekly, The American Citizen. Business on his mind, John scans the economic reports: bar iron is selling at 2 3/4 to 3 cents a pound, down from 4 1/2  (a product of weak demand, railroad-building decline, high debt and lack of cash, the N.Y. Sun reports). Times are tough; unemployment is high. What else is new? It's been this way since '73.

Christmas, Hard Times, Bright & Gloom

Before we get too much further, we must acknowledge that Messr Livelar is likely not a household name for all of our readers. Thus, a brief introduction is in order. Young John (the papers commonly call him "Johnny") is a 22-year-old Italian immigrant, born ca. 1853 in Italy, who arrived stateside by circa 1865.

—who, we know, will one day operate a saloon in our Cantonian building as owner and proprietor—