The Leap Year Proposal

Addressed, No Postmark

In 1904, Dorothy Dix wrote about the benefits - and perils - of taking advantage of the Leap Year tradition that allowed women to propose marriage in the New York Times article "The Leap Year Proposal". Although today, women can freely pop the question, at the turn of the 20th Century, it was against the mores of the day - unless it was February 29th.

Dating: Leap Year occurred in 1908, and since this is an undivided back card, it was probably written that year.

One Hundred Years Ago: We Are Busy Sewing These Days

Postmarked 21 February 1912 
New Berlin, Pennsylvania

Postcard Message:

Be sure and come over, will look for you, we are busy sewing these days. Cora will you bring that good along for my waist in my ----- and the floss to work it with 3 skeins of steel and 3 of old rose. / there is no express office, we must always send our goods to Winfield, isn't this awful weather Lovingly, Mother and Stella

University of Chicago Football Series

Although today, University of Chicago is known for its academic programs, in the early twentieth century, it also had a strong football team. The first Heisman Trophy winner, Jay Berwanger, played for the University of Chicago football team. The UC team was in the Big Ten Conference until university president Robert Hutchins banned football in 1939. (The sport was reinstated in the late 1960s - Sports Illustrated published a story about it in the 1950s.)

Hutchins once said, "Whenever I feel the need to exercise, I lie down until it goes away," so it's probably no surprise he wasn't an ardent fan of sports on campus.

How Dare You?

Postmarked 2 February 1909
Northampton, Massachusetts 

Postcard Caption:

A Pug and A Pointer

Postcard Message:

Why Pert Ridley / How dare you? / ask Abe bell and Claude / How about theirs? 

I'd sure like to know more about what must be an inside joke!