Postcard sent in 1913 turns up

“How long will it take to get there?” customers at post offices were asking this week, concerned that the leather wallet, cashmere sweater or chocolate truffles would not arrive in time for the holidays. Clerks were responding that Monday is the last day to send domestic mail if it’s to arrive by Christmas…even though it’s been all over the airwaves that a postcard dated December 23, 1913 just arrived in northwest Kansas.

The card, which was recently found somewhere in Illinois, had been addressed to Ethel Martin and was delivered to her sister-in-law, Bernice Martin. It had been placed inside an envelope and was sent with a one-cent stamp, which I, for one, believe should be refunded given the delay. Where it’s been remains a mystery.

Luckily, it was a greeting card, but consider if the message had been:

“Darling, I am pregnant. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll assume you want no involvement";

“You’re the winner of the Publishers Clearing House Contest but you must respond to this letter”;

or

“We’re pleased to inform you that you’ve been accepted into the Harvard University freshman class of 1914”.