What Were They Thinking?

If you had been a fly on the wall, this is the conversation you might have overheard:

Museum Director: We really need to do something to attract more visitors to the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum.
Marketing Director: Well, perhaps we should print a postcard.
Museum Director: Great idea, but which exhibit should we feature? There are so many good ones to choose from.
Marketing Director: Well, we could feature a photo of the atomic bomb along with a catchy slogan.
Museum Director: Or something about the Cold War or Israel...
Marketing Director: Maybe we should go with something less controversial.

As you can see, the results were very good. The eye is drawn to numerous points of interest: flags, lectern, electrical outlet, presidential seal, heating vent, wide expanse of wall, metal windows with photos attached to the glass. You can't go wrong.

And then there's this memorable postcard. I don't know. Am I missing something? Who would send this? And who would they send it to?

Here are the backs of the postcards.

Take the Leap!

Did you notice that we have one extra day this month? Leap year is better news for people who are paid by the hour than for people who are on a monthly salary, so it all depends on your perspective whether you appreciate it or not. Here's a card from some previous leap year, circa 1920.

Initially I was puzzled by this card because I didn't make the connection between leap year and 'taking the leap', i.e. getting married. I can't say I've heard the expression used in conversation. More often it's something about tying the knot or making an honest man/woman out of someone. In the early 1900s there were plenty of humorous postcards that pointed out the perils of marriage and courtship, mostly, though not always, presented from a man's perspective.

This one's a little odd, isn't it?

And this one's pretty unusual too.

Here's the back of that last card, sent in 1909 to Miss Verlene Hall in Sargent, Nebraska. You didn't think the card was that old, did you?

The message reads:

Made good connections in Joe 8:45 there is little difference in weather conditions here and there. The weather is gloomy and so ___ _. ha: he, he!

I am mad at that hello girl because she wouldn't let me say all my say. 

X---

I think 'Hello Girls' were telephone operators.

Tram Tuesday - Attleboro, Massachusetts

There was grass growing in the middle of Park Street in Attleboro circa 1907. It was a big wide street with lots of space separating the sidewalk and the streetcar tracks.

It doesn't quite look like that anymore. Here's a more modern view.

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Frank B. Eldredge sent this card to Jose Galavisi in Buenos Aires Argentina in 1907. Frank was a little perturbed. It seems he had sent Jose some American stamps in anticipation of an exchange, but Jose had simply returned the stamps.

The message reads:

Your letter with enclosures received 

am sorry you returned the sheet  of common stamps I hoped you would have sent  me a sheet of common Argentine stamps in return or handed it to someone who would. I should like a list of what you desire in USA stamps and also would ask what catalogue you use for medium of exchange. Upon receipt of list from you I will send you what I wish in Argentine stamps provided your list contains stamps I can furnish.