Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: self-deprecating

[Oops, looks like I was a little late last night in posting my "messages, captions, inscriptions" photo, and Phil beat me to the punch with his "all dressed up and nowhere to go" photo for this week's theme. I'd be glad to remove this from the group if anyone has any objection to my tardiness.] A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of messages, captions, inscriptions (a written comment, description, or explanation added to the back or front of a photo) . Claude J. Diliplane (1887-1950) of Reading, Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War I, from May to December 1918. He was 31 years old when he noted on the back of this real photo postcard that his picture was taken at Fort Myer , Virginia, on July 18, 1918. He also jokingly said, "I think if you put this alongside the pig, he'll smile. Try it and see." He closed with "Some Pig" before signing his name. Claude was 62 years old and working as a machinist when he tragically died on Monday, January 30, 1950, from injuries he received from being hit by a car at Second and Penn Streets in Reading the previous Saturday night ("Pedestrian Dies of Auto Injuries," Philadelphia Inquirer , Jan. 31, 1950, p. 8).

Handwritten on the back of this real photo postcard: "Mrs. Mace, you said when we were over [that] you only get ugly post cards, and I said I have a few I will send you, and now here they are, from your friend, Amanda Ench." Although Amanda Ench jokes about her "ugly" postcard, I think that she has a pleasant, dignified look with sparkling eyes and a wry expression that hints at her self-deprecating sense of humor.

A cyanotypes photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "You can use this to keep the mice and rats away. Yes, I will keep the dog in and put out the key. A.S." Addressed to: Miss Maud W. Parker, North Lubec, Maine. Postmarked: South Lubec, ME, Oct. 18, 1906, and North Lubec, ME, Oct. 18, 1906. The joke about a photographic portrait being so bad or ugly that it scares away rodents, insects, and burglars was evidently a common one in the early twentieth century. Another version, for instance, appeared in a 1911 letter sent to American musician and composer William D. Dawson: "My Dear Mr. Armstrong: I duly received, welcome, and possessed myself of your portrait and am glad to have it. At the same time I am ashamed to recall that I have so long neglected to acknowledge it or to send the reciprocal photo to you. I have autographed one this evening and it will be shipped by freight tomorrow. It is warranted to scare away rats and burglars" (see W. T. Norton, William Dawson Armstrong, American Composer , New York: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1916, p 87). For another 1906 real photo postcard with a "scare away the rats" joke, see Guaranteed to Rid Any Cellar of Rats, Roaches, or Other Creatures (below).

"Guaranteed--to rid any cellar of rats, roaches, or other undesirable creatures. In case of failure to do so as represented, your money cheerfully refunded and no questions asked . September 15th, 1906 A.D." Addressed to: Miss Olive L. Carpenter, Box #99, Yantic, Connecticut. Postmarked: Philadelphia, Pa., Sep. 16, 1906. Judging by a Find A Grave search, the recipient of this real photo postcard was probably Olive L. Carpenter Bullard (1878 - 1917) ("wife of E. E. Bullard"), who is buried in the Yantic Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut. If so, she would have been 28 years old when she received this postcard in 1906 and only 39 when she died in 1917. I wonder if it was her husband who sent her this card. For another real photo postcard with a similar "scare away the rats" joke, see Use This to Keep the Mice and Rats Away (below).