Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: swords

"Ach(k)ing. I am a [king] to see you. Ak(qu)ing." A punning postcard (get it—"I am a king" = "I am aching"?) addressed on the other side to Mr. Arthur Steinberg, Marquette, Kansas, and postmarked McPherson, Kansas, August 7, 1912. Handwritten message: "Hello, Hope you got home safe and sound and did not get caught in the rain. Well I guess I can't come down for the hop. Wish I could though. Hope you have a good time at the picnic. As ever, Esther. Ans."

"Worst clam bake I ever went to. Tables set in open field. Broiling hot sun. Clams half done. One waiter to our table. Everything in the bake was smoky. Everybody disgusted. C. L. Deane." Complaints about the food and service at a clambake that was held over 125 years ago. For more information, see the front of this ticket :

"Bristol County Association. G.A.R. Clambake. Riverview Park, Labor Day. Seat No. 332." Handwritten additions to the front of this ticket: "C. L. Deane & J.D.H. Jr. Sep. 6/88. (over.)" Handwritten note on the back (see below): "Worst clam bake I ever went to. Tables set in open field. Broiling hot sun. Clams half done. One waiter to our table. Everything in the bake was smoky. Everybody disgusted. C. L. Deane." "C. L. Deane" was clearly displeased with the food and service at the clambake that he and "J.D.H. Jr." attended as part of an early observance of Labor Day in 1888. The Bristol County Association, based in Bristol County, Massachusetts, was a local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), an American Civil War veterans' organization. C. L. Deane may have been Charles Learned Deane (1871-1955). If so, he would have been only 17 years old when he registered his complaints about the clambake on his ticket for seat no. 332.

"Gen. Sherman. Trust in me!" Printing hidden under scrap: "Our Generals. 12 for 30 cents. Fringed 12 for 80 cents." See also calling cards for General Hancock and General Logan .

A Memorial Day postcard.

Now even Santa knows what it feels like to be held hostage by all the holiday advertising!