Interesting, every age has its iPhone of its time. Props for digging that up. I think we are in a watch craze again.
Imagine if the writer from 1890 time travelled to present day and learned we'd be installing lights at road crossings to save distracted phone users from themselves. His head would explode
My guess is that they would be so consumed with how we have destroyed the planet, they would not notice such a small thing...
Check out this video at the 4:40 mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPS2l5fQ55A You forget they were dead set on reshaping the world back then. They'd be awed by the great cities and massive dams that were a glimmer in the mind's eye back then. Not having to trudge through mountains of horse manure on every street and actually being able to see their hand in front of their face on a London evening would amaze them no end. Drinking water not infested with typhus and parasites, indoor plumbing, plenty of decent food for all, no fear of rabid dogs appearing out of nowhere with no possibility of survival if bitten, etc. Air quality in any western nation of today is better than it was in most major cities in the late 19th century.