Dry Illinois

Prohibition began nation-wide in January 1920; Illinois was already 87% dry by 1919. Chicago remained wet with more than five thousand saloons, nearly two thirds of the saloons in the state. That ended on July 1, 1919 when Illinois enacted a dry bill ending the sale and transportation of alcohol within the state. The bill also allowed a "search and seizure" provision, which allowed any judge, including a justice of the peace, to grant a writ of search on the word of any citizen that alcohol was being sold. There were exceptions for sacramental and industrial uses and alcohol could still be sold by druggists for medicinal purpose.

Mourning Is Becoming In Electric Blue

By the end of the First World War, conventional widow's weeds were falling out of style. Women no longer wore dark veils or wore black for an entire year. Some time spent in mourning was still to be expected; in addition to black, other colors such as purple, lavender, and white were also colors of mourning.

Note the prices on each gown, that was a good month's salary at the time.