17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, February 14, 1913:Cupid didn’t send me any valentines. Didn’t feel very well this morning.
My dearest sister was going to a box social, and then didn’t go because no one came for her. I’m glad I wasn’t going for then I would have been disappointed.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Hundred-year-old Valentine Postcard
I bet Grandma wished that a special guy had sent her a valentine like this one.
February must be the month for box socials. Grandma and her sister Ruth went to one the previous week-end.
Poor Ruth—it’s hard to be stood up. (Maybe I should be looking at this from Grandma’s perspective and feel happy—but I can’t help feeling bad for Ruth.)
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Grandma’s matured a lot. In 1911 and 1912 she was really into sending ugly valentines–sometimes called vinegar valentines–to people who annoyed her; but in 1913 she never mentioned them. You might enjoy these posts from previous years:
Oh, how sad. I think we can all identify; I remember in school when the popular kids got lots of Valentine’s, and some of us only a couple from our good (also unpopular) friends. I’m going back to check your previous Valentine posts from Grandma’s scrapbook.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Sheryl! I hope yours won’t be as disappointing as Grandma’s and Ruth’s was all those years ago… The old Valentine postcard is so sweet…
Valentines are wonderful but no valentines can hurt. I used to get “I love you” cards when I was a kid. They were signed, “From an Anonymous Admirer.” I was all puffed up for a while but soon learned they were from my mother! 🙂
I remember getting a “secret admirer” valentine when I was in third grade. Like you, I was really excited. Several years later my mother told me that she thought that my teacher had put the secret admirer valentines in students’ valentine boxes.
Oh those vinegar Valentine’s are really mean…I would probably bawl if someone gave me that big nose one. The message was horrid. Man, they had a very odd sense of humour back then.
What a clout to stand up poor Ruth, that guy would have deserved one.
I am glad that the 100 year old valentine cards in my grandma’s scrapbooks were all nice ones. I posted the last two this evening.
The old valentines from your grandmother’s scrapbooks are wonderful.
Oh dear, I know how she feels . . .
I know what you mean.
Oh, how sad. I think we can all identify; I remember in school when the popular kids got lots of Valentine’s, and some of us only a couple from our good (also unpopular) friends. I’m going back to check your previous Valentine posts from Grandma’s scrapbook.
I have similar memories. Sometimes, I’m glad that I’m not young any more.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Sheryl! I hope yours won’t be as disappointing as Grandma’s and Ruth’s was all those years ago… The old Valentine postcard is so sweet…
And, Happy Valentine’s Day to you. I had a great day–I hope you did, too.
Not a good day for your Helena. Hope your VDAY is much better.
I had a very nice day. I hope that you also had a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Valentines are wonderful but no valentines can hurt. I used to get “I love you” cards when I was a kid. They were signed, “From an Anonymous Admirer.” I was all puffed up for a while but soon learned they were from my mother! 🙂
I remember getting a “secret admirer” valentine when I was in third grade. Like you, I was really excited. Several years later my mother told me that she thought that my teacher had put the secret admirer valentines in students’ valentine boxes.
I love those vinegar valentines. I learned something new!
They are fun (in an awful kind of way).
Oh those vinegar Valentine’s are really mean…I would probably bawl if someone gave me that big nose one. The message was horrid. Man, they had a very odd sense of humour back then.
What a clout to stand up poor Ruth, that guy would have deserved one.