September 16, 1910
Peter Giberson
Don’t come. Alice
It’s been raining up here in Maine for the
past few days, and we’re all a bit cranky around our edges; there’s something
particularly oppressive about rainy days in late fall.
But I’ve got the cure for that:
browsing through indoor flea markets where, if I’m lucky, I can find a postcard
vendor with row upon row of boxed cards – a deltiologist’s dream!
Most
people collect postcards for the views, the graphics, the artist or the
publisher.
Not
me; I collect for the words written on the back – and Samantha’s warning to
Peter Giberson from the New Meadows Inn near my hometown is a classic!
A couple of years ago I published a small
book: “Father is here...he’s as fat as a pig,” a collection of messages found
on postcards sent to/from people in Maine in the early 1900s; I lifted the
title directly from a postcard mailed in Lisbon in 1912 (you can find it on
Amazon or on my website if you want to take a closer look).
It’s full of oddball things people wrote to
each other, such as:
Dear V, will you look on the wood box and see if Sam laid a mouse
there... please destroy it for it will not smell very good...
Or, one of my all-time favorites:
Dear Helen...there’s loads of pigs and cows down here, but not many
men.
I wasn’t thinking about compiling a
collection for a second book until I found one mailed to Leon McIntire of
Middle Dam, Maine:
Received your card. Thot you was dead. Stella
Perfect title, I thought! So I’m officially collecting
for the second book.
I’ve found some absolute beauties, including
one to Mrs. W.S. Mayberry, in Portland
Intended to send you a card before this but have been very busy
fighting hornets...MBL
And to Mr. Fred Plummer of Orono:
You left town just in time for Mrs. Warren put your name in the paper
and goodness knows what she might have discovered about you if you stayed
longer...
And to a Mrs. Cunningham of Jefferson , Maine
Walter has got his arm broke, the rest of us are all well.
Lottie is dead.
Hmmmm.
So much for Lottie!
Another classic, Deb! I have been nursing a chest cold in the midst of this gloom--this made me smile. Thanks for that. xo
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see "spindrift" in my comment box today; glad I could make you smile in the midst of the glums! Have a safe, happy holiday. I'll think of you at Lessons & Carols; see you when you get back!
DeleteI love your collection of messages. I usually look only at the fronts when I am buying postcards. I consider any interesting and readable messages a bonus.
ReplyDeleteAnd I never even look at the fronts. I just turn the box around and start in reading the backs! Together, we'd find ALL the good ones!
DeleteI find them really interesting - those messages on postcards. 'Pigs and cows... and not many men' made me lol! And thanks for a new (to me) word - deltiology. Love it! I'm going to your book on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteHazel
I was amazed to find how funny people were back then! Always thought they were dull, boring people --but this postcard business has opened my eyes! Thanks, Hazel.
DeleteSuch an abrupt way to announce that somebody is dead. Poor Lottie. Oh well, the writer can't be accused of beating around the bush. The book sounds interesting, like a possible Christmas gift.
ReplyDeleteAbrupt, too, to announce a death on a postcard...I often wonder, Helen, if Lottie might have been an animal...
DeleteA very funny post. I also prize the messages as much as the postcard picture. Is there some quality that makes Maine messages different from those of other States?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so, Mike. But limiting it to Maine gave me a better focus...I suppose one could collect comments from ANY part of the world, and find the same sense of humor...
DeleteWhat a great idea for collecting postcards. I must have a look for some with amusing comments like yours, just for fun :-)
ReplyDeleteBe careful, Jo -- you'll get hooked! That's what happened to me; now I can't keep my eyes off old postcards!
DeleteGave me a giggle - I love the blankness of the writings - so much like country folk around where I grew up!
ReplyDeleteDo you suppose that's a world-wide trait? It's interesting to think about...
DeleteWell written. A very entertaining post with a lot of truth behind our humour.
ReplyDeleteI love the "truth" of those cards, too; no elaboration, just pure, open bits of people's lives.
DeleteHow I agree with all the comments above - an entertaining and fascinating post, with an attention grabbing introduction. I think you may start a trend of us looking at postcard messages first.
ReplyDeleteGood hunting to you, SS! I guarantee you'll find some winners in your part of the world, too!
DeleteSome of those are hilarious; I think I’ll look out for messages like this from now on. What a way to break poor Lottie’s passing though!
ReplyDeleteThey ARE funny, aren't they? I've found that most are very boring, but every now and then, one of these outrageous cards pops up...makes my entire day!
DeleteWHEN I think of all the cards I have looked at in our local market it will be a mammoth task to go through them all again looking at the messages on the back. A very entertaining post Deb
ReplyDeleteWell, no need to "back up," Bob -- just take a peek every now and then. You'll find some good ones, I'm sure!
DeleteI can hardly wait to go to the junk shops and antique stores to start reading post cards.
ReplyDeleteI think I've read a couple thousand postcards in the last ten years, Wendy -- and found about 200 that are worth saving. But looking for them is nearly as much fun as finding them!
DeleteWhat a great idea! I suppose that I could do that too, with all of those Letsom Letters postcards that I have. I look forward to seeing your book!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kathy M.
Oh, so good to hear from you, Kathy! I'm still waiting for TCU to come to its senses and play that Matthews kid...what's the latest?
ReplyDeleteI agree absolutely, when faced by those boxes of old postcards, it is always the messages on the back that I focus in on. The book - and its' title - are a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alan! I can't take credit for the titles, though -- they're both direct quotes from old cards! I've had a lot of fun with the first book (Fat as a pig); the second will, hopefully, be just as funny!
DeleteGreat idea Deb...and I can't wait to read about those card writings...after all, at least one postman probably did before delivering them.
ReplyDeleteI bet you're right! Those postmen probably knew everything going on in the neighborhood!
DeleteYou've made me want to rush out and look for old postcards. I don't even know if they sell them in Australia...must ask my thrift-shopper friends.
ReplyDelete