London - The Big Funny City in 1912

With traffic from the Olympics, it may have been easier to get around London in 1912 than it is today.  The first card is in fairly rough shape, but it includes a wonderful message written exactly 100 years ago today.

The message reads:

Chichester, Aug. 2' 1912

My Dear Alfred

I was much pleased today to find your kind note in my mail-bag! Thank you for remembering me.

I remember when your Father was about your age, that his grandmother took him to England. I have thought of it several times since I came here.

This card shows you one of the finest places in London. It is a big funny city. Do you see that two story omnibus?  with stair on the outside. It is one of the hundreds we see, and they are all covered over with posters advertising whiskey and beer, and soap and bread +c+c.

We are having a good time and seeing many fine things.

I hope you are all well. Give my love to your Father + Mother and all.  your Friend,

E.C. Harrington

Here are two more cards of the same era.

R.M.S. Berengaria

The R.M.S. Berengaria was originally built for the Hamburg-Amerika Line as the Imperator. At the end of World War I, she was seized by the America Navy and given to the British as reparation for sinking of the Lusitania. The ship was then sold to the Cunard line.

The Hall Genealogy website has lots of information on the ship along with many photos of the interior.

Tram Tuesday - Marseille, France

Back in 2011 I posted a colorful scene of streetcars on La Canebière in Marseille. Here are some more cards showing scenes of Marseille that include streetcars. The earliest trams in Marseille began service in 1876 and were pulled by horses.  As in most other places, the system slowly transitioned to electric power.  This first card, circa 1900,  appears to show horse-drawn and electric trams operating side by side.

Here's a close-up.

The tram system in Marseille has operated continuously, although the cars today are very sleek and modern in comparison to the ones shown here.