|
I Just Called to Say ...
Communication Before Mobile Phones Colin Lindzey, January 2018 Photos courtesy Colin Lindzey and Michael Cook Have you ever seen people receiving mobile messages from their partners about trivialities? It isn't a new phenomenon, it just uses modern technologies. A century ago, people did exactly the same by sending postcards. There was a longer time delay but the main difference was that cards could be kept and treasured; most texts, calls and emails are instantly forgotten. These are more examples of the postcards received and sent by Lilian Chaffey (nee Tye), her siblings and family. Most before the First World War were written in pencil because pen and ink were less readily available and most cards had as much small writing as could be crammed into the space as possible. Receiving a card from a friend or relative brightened the day and connected people with the world outside their house and street. Collecting cards was a hobby, a window on the greater world to be collected in albums, poured over at leisure and shown off to others. It was customary to reciprocate with a postcard for every card received. |
The sisters competed with each other to collect different cards. In 1906 her sister Cecilie Plenty (nee Tye) claimed I have about 120; how many have you? By the time they stopped they had thousands of cards, all treasured and stored safely in albums.
In Public View
Postcards in the Edwardian era were not just the obligatory holiday greeting that they became in later years. Instead they were birthday and Christmas greetings sent without being enclosed in an envelope and often with news updates dealing with illness, problems and intimate family information. But the content was carefully revealed lest the card was read by the local postman and became village gossip. Sometimes a card was personally delivered, slipped through the door as a note because it wasn't always convenient to drop in to say something.
But cards between siblings could be much more adventurous and amusing. In October 1907 Cecilie apologised to her sister Lilian because she had been spooning (cuddling) her boyfriend. Many cards from young, single ladies in service (at an age little more than girls) referred to marriage, not necessarily planned, but hoped for, and the raising of their own families. Lilian received the card below left anonymously (probably a sister) in 1906, He that expect not shall receive more. Don't he look a proud father. Don't you wish it was you. The comical Christmas greeting below right from Cecilie to Lilian typifies a young girl's humour in 1908.
Postcards in the Edwardian era were not just the obligatory holiday greeting that they became in later years. Instead they were birthday and Christmas greetings sent without being enclosed in an envelope and often with news updates dealing with illness, problems and intimate family information. But the content was carefully revealed lest the card was read by the local postman and became village gossip. Sometimes a card was personally delivered, slipped through the door as a note because it wasn't always convenient to drop in to say something.
But cards between siblings could be much more adventurous and amusing. In October 1907 Cecilie apologised to her sister Lilian because she had been spooning (cuddling) her boyfriend. Many cards from young, single ladies in service (at an age little more than girls) referred to marriage, not necessarily planned, but hoped for, and the raising of their own families. Lilian received the card below left anonymously (probably a sister) in 1906, He that expect not shall receive more. Don't he look a proud father. Don't you wish it was you. The comical Christmas greeting below right from Cecilie to Lilian typifies a young girl's humour in 1908.
|
|
In July 1911 Cecilie was in service for David Harris, a wealthy Scottish manufacturer, and was amazed at her first encounter with a man wearing a kilt: I asked (a girl we know here) if he had any briefs on. So she said go behind him and lift his petticoats then you can see.
Private Comments
Several of Lilian's cards were from a friend (probably one of Lilian's sisters) sympathising with her for the amount of work she was expected to do: Fat Sally the Domineering Mistress (below left). On the reverse of this 1910 card was: I hope you will be more careful for the future, Shakespear (sic), which was the nom-de-plume of her sister Bertha Cannings (nee Tye). The card was a dig at Lilian's elderly employer, Miss Sarah Vezey, and hopefully Lilian got to the post before her employer saw it.
Private Comments
Several of Lilian's cards were from a friend (probably one of Lilian's sisters) sympathising with her for the amount of work she was expected to do: Fat Sally the Domineering Mistress (below left). On the reverse of this 1910 card was: I hope you will be more careful for the future, Shakespear (sic), which was the nom-de-plume of her sister Bertha Cannings (nee Tye). The card was a dig at Lilian's elderly employer, Miss Sarah Vezey, and hopefully Lilian got to the post before her employer saw it.
|
|
Some cards were just saucy postcards between bored, young women in domestic service and looking forward to escaping with romance and marriage, such as that above right. There was a clear bond between domestic servants, writing to support each other under the noses of their employers when their work was deeply unsatisfying.
Cries For Help
Some cards read more like cries for help. Lilian received one from her sister Bertha in Banbury in March 1908 saying, We are moving again... It's so damp here and only one copper between four homes so you have to take your turns washing days... Where we are going has one to yourself ... Will be warmer for the children. They have all got dreadful colds.
In the years before the National Health Service medical visits were rare and often presaged death. It was particularly poignant when children were involved. In the spring of 1908 Clara Arthurs (nee Tye) was worried about the health of her new baby, Albert. Eventually she paid for the doctor to call, saying Dr said today, with great care, he think I shall save him (the baby). You don't know what a relief it is. But death stalked infants and child mortality was common enough to be discussed on open cards.
Cries For Help
Some cards read more like cries for help. Lilian received one from her sister Bertha in Banbury in March 1908 saying, We are moving again... It's so damp here and only one copper between four homes so you have to take your turns washing days... Where we are going has one to yourself ... Will be warmer for the children. They have all got dreadful colds.
In the years before the National Health Service medical visits were rare and often presaged death. It was particularly poignant when children were involved. In the spring of 1908 Clara Arthurs (nee Tye) was worried about the health of her new baby, Albert. Eventually she paid for the doctor to call, saying Dr said today, with great care, he think I shall save him (the baby). You don't know what a relief it is. But death stalked infants and child mortality was common enough to be discussed on open cards.
|
|
|
Above left to right: Cards written by Clara Tye to her sister Lilian reflecting loss, hope and happiness.
The low wages and lack of money is another theme in the cards. As a junior servant Cecilie apologised that she had not sent Lilian a birthday present in April 1905 because I have not had my tin (for tips). By 1910 she was doing better when she had half a guinea (52p in modern money) from visitors and later when there were only two of them looking after eight staying guests 5 shillings and a pair of gloves. But a year later she had a present of a bracelet from her employer not much good, what can you expect. But Cecilie was notorious for buying new hats (in 1911 only a small one 8s.6d hardly anything on it) and a lot of her income went on fashionable clothes. In 1914 she was complaining of being stony broke.
Cards for All Seasons
The variety of cards is astonishing. Cards were for sending on all occasions just like we used to before iPhones: Easter, Christmas, birthdays and holiday cards. It was a time before domestic houses had telephones and postcards were an easy way of keeping in touch or making arrangements. Many of the seasonal cards were standard views with robins, snow and Christmas trees or Easter chicks and lambs, but sometimes any old card would do. Examples of this are: below left Prosser Chaffey's birthday greetings from his sister, Mabel; below middle Christmas card to Lilian from her sister Bertha; below right birthday card to Lilian from her sister Clara avoiding having lilies on show.
Cards for All Seasons
The variety of cards is astonishing. Cards were for sending on all occasions just like we used to before iPhones: Easter, Christmas, birthdays and holiday cards. It was a time before domestic houses had telephones and postcards were an easy way of keeping in touch or making arrangements. Many of the seasonal cards were standard views with robins, snow and Christmas trees or Easter chicks and lambs, but sometimes any old card would do. Examples of this are: below left Prosser Chaffey's birthday greetings from his sister, Mabel; below middle Christmas card to Lilian from her sister Bertha; below right birthday card to Lilian from her sister Clara avoiding having lilies on show.
|
|
|
|
Wartime Cards Reporting on the mobilisation of soldiers was important for families. Liian's sister, Clara Arthurs, wrote cards around to all members of her family with updates of the news of her husband's return to active service in 1918: Bert not gone yet; Bert got there all right; Bert off to France this week; and Bert was off to France Monday night. Some of the news was more troubling: An air raid this morning (on Bedminster) 20 minutes to 5. Many injured soldiers sent cards home from hospital or to advise family that they were alive or coming on leave in UK. To keep up spirits during the wartime they were often either gushingly romantic or humorous, subject to official censorship. Left: From Prosser Chaffey to his wife Lilian |
It is possible to chart the story of the First World War from the postcards that were sent. The cards sent by May to Lilian show below left to right early days of the war; shortages caused by aerial attack and rationing; and the beginning of the end of the war.
|
|
|
As the duration of the war continued cards depicting soldiers and wartime life became more common even normalised. Soldiers in uniform were everywhere and, below left, popped up on a birthday greetings card from Cis and Phyllis to Lilian Tye. Food rationing and the use of basic ingredients became the staple diet for many people, seen below right from May to Lilian.
|
|
The war changed Edwardian attitudes. The certainty of the British Empire was vanishing and a broader world emerging. Postcards from the Mediterranean and from Greece showed people and lives completely different to holidays in Bournemouth and Brighton.
|
|
Hand-embroidered cards from loved ones, some of who did not survive, brought a romance and sentimentality to postcards and their fragility was one of the reasons why the era of open postcards came to an end.
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
Sending regular postcards seems rather old-fashioned to us today. But not the sending of greetings on facebook and other social media sites. We have evolved new technology but the need to communicate regularly with family and loved ones remains a constant. As does the need to be careful with what we say on cards or emails. In January 1912 Cecilie and Lilian had a brief disagreement over the lace Cecilie had bought to make drawers for Lilian. Lilian thought that she had been cheated out of a yard of lace and told her sister so in no uncertain words. The need to choose our words carefully was ever thus with emails today!
Sending regular postcards seems rather old-fashioned to us today. But not the sending of greetings on facebook and other social media sites. We have evolved new technology but the need to communicate regularly with family and loved ones remains a constant. As does the need to be careful with what we say on cards or emails. In January 1912 Cecilie and Lilian had a brief disagreement over the lace Cecilie had bought to make drawers for Lilian. Lilian thought that she had been cheated out of a yard of lace and told her sister so in no uncertain words. The need to choose our words carefully was ever thus with emails today!
From Cecilie Tye to her sister Lilian in 1909
These postcards are a wonderful and unique collection of people's thoughts and their need to be close to relatives. They reach out across a century to unite us with our ancestors, the similarities and the differences to us.