p-mail

I found some neat Valentine's in an antique store in Andover, Vermont this weekend. I came across a whole basketful, but limited myself to just three. It's clear that postcards were the original e-mail (which from now on I am going to call p-mail). These two were written by the same woman, Julia, who lived in Vermont, to her cousin Etta M. Gee, from Etna, New Hampshire (yes, Etta from Etna). The cards are postmarked October 5, 1912 and February 12?, 1914. A lot of the cards I sifted through were written by this woman to her cousin. I also discovered that people seemed to have used Valentine's postcards year round with no particular attachment to St. Valentine's Day. I found one that said on the back "Have a gorgeous Thanksgiving!"

In case you can't read it, the first one says:

Dear Cousin: - Your card received and was glad to hear from you. How are you all this lovely morning? Papa is sick abed with the grippe and a hard cold, the rest of us are well as usual. Yes I had a good time at the fair and did not get wet any, as I was under cover when it rained. Yes they did have a poor weep for the fair. I went down to Bellows Falls to the street fair, and had a good time.

Write often.

From Julia

The second one says:

Dear Cousin: - Your card received was glad to hear from you, and should have answered before but have been busy so letter writing was an easy job to put off. Many thanks for the cards you all sent grandpa up that way, and he received a shower of 91 cards. Hope this finds you all well. We are well as usual. Is it cold up there? 20 below here yesterday.

Write often.

From Julia

Perhaps it's heartening to know that even in 1914 people found it hard to find the time to write postcards, and so we are all still battling a timeless and universal pull to do other things.

To whom would you send a note if you could take a moment to write it? P-mail postage is only 28 cents - 28 cents! - within the U.S. How can you not avail yourself of such a bargain?

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you are spending it surrounded by love.