"Before 1914 this world was a rosie lovely place to live in, after that date its been going downhill fast."
How we interpret what is happening around us is in terms of "signs" is very much determined by our own limited in-time appraisals.
Fact is, in Russell's pre-1914 day, he was absolutely convinced mankind was in the last days AND that 1914 would mark the very end of those last days.
His post-1914 reputation was saved by two sleight of hand "adjustments":
1. Christ was now said to have indeed returned - but invisibly.
2. Rather than marking the end, 1914 now marked the beginning of the time of the end.
Magic. And few noticed or have cared since about the magician's manoeuvres.