What's good about the 1880s?

[c.d.]

The drug laudanum was legal, cheap and readily available. Beats kicking back with a couple of Bud Lites on a Saturday evening.

c.d.

[Robert]

Stan Laurel conceived.

[c.d.]

Oscar Wilde - is it me, or is this genius becoming forgotten these days?

Wilde will always be held in the highest esteem by those who value wit. But unfortunately as you suggest that crowd is rapidly diminishing.

c.d.

[Wickerman]

Things were built to last.

[Robert]

Yep, Mick Jagger still going strong.

[Semper_Eadem]

Ragtime, but I think it really didn't take off until the mid1890s. Still, here is the Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin out of St Louis. https://youtu.be/pMAtL7n_-rc

[Sam Flynn]

On the subject of music, 1888 was a good year for symphonies.

Mahler wrote his first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSNy8cVZbZY

Bruckner his fourth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Num9r-nr0o

Tchaikovsky his fifth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av0SFzcfRBE

César Franck his first... and last: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkcLrIbPYIM

[Robert]

Tchaikovsky - great composer but whistling left something to be desired.

[Yabs]

Music hall and the founding of the grand order of water rats in 1889.

my great grandfather Jack-Lotto was co-founder.

[Semper_Eadem]

1888 started as a terrible year for weather in the USA at least. March of 1888 we had the Great Blizzard which yet again proved Mother Nature's dominance over Man. Brought New York to a screeching holt. Not something good about the 1880's but I'm sure some good came of it. At least I hope so.

[Robert]

On yer bike, Yabs.

[Yabs]

On yer bike, Yabs.

Haha indeed.

[DJA]

Stan Laurel conceived.

Later joined the Water Rats.

[Sam Flynn]

Having just seen a colleague's rugby shirt, I note that the British Lions rugby team was founded in 1888, coinciding with their first tour of New Zealand and Australia.

[Busy Beaver]

Celtic Football club were founded and played their first match in 1888 beating Rangers 5-2. The Scottish Labour Party was formed on the 25th August 1888 and my gt gt gt gran sadly passed away on this day also.