Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's wishing you a happy Thanksgiving, just as Mr. Bumpus did when he sent this beautiful card to his daughter in 1911.

The Lovely Josephine

This card was sent to Josephine from Czechoslovakia. Josephine looked very much like the child on the right when she was young, but I don't suppose this is actually a picture of her. My Slovak language skills are sadly lacking, but should a Slovak wander by, a translation would be greatly appreciated.

I know that the card was received, but I don't know if it was actually mailed like this or not. The stamp has been removed and there is no visible cancellation. It may have been included in a package instead. I'm curious, because I notice that the state is missing from the address. Maybe it didn't matter.

Kirkstone Pass, England

This postcard may not have color, but it definitely has movement. Be sure to click on it to get a closer look. It shows horse-drawn carriages descending from Kirkstone Pass in the English Lake District in the county of Cumbria. A motorcar has pulled off to the side, perhaps to get out of the way of the fast-moving carriages. The Kirkstone Inn (not visible here) stands near the summit of the pass and has been there since the 16th century. You can still rent a room here or a bunk in the dormitory and get some refreshment in the bar.

You probably won't be able to ride a horse-drawn carriage down from the Pass anymore, but many cyclists and runners enjoy the challenge both uphill and down. The ride is a steep one; in places the gradient is 25%! Although the ride down by carriage was probably fun and exciting, the ride up was known as the struggle, because horses were unable to pull the weight of the carriage with passengers, so people had to get out and walk to the top. The ride down was winding, dusty, and bumpy, and passengers were packed in tightly. The first carriage is carrying 19 passengers along with the driver. It looks as if it would have been easy to fall out.

Here's another view: