"Oh, just around the turn of the century", which is in actuality: 1898
p.s. An aside to the next calendar which is 1927; this is a faux pas when John says, paraphrasing here; 'do you hear about that fella who is going to fly across the Atlantic; he'll never make it' Well, Lindbergh had already completed his historic flight (in May) of '27, so, he had made it.