Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Valentine from Marguerite to Percy ~ 52 Ancestors #7

I am participating in this year's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge from Amy Johnson Crow. Each week has an optional writing prompt and this week's writing prompt is Valentine.

My great grandparents, Percy Earle Hunter and Marguerite Lysle, were very happily married. This is the couple whose photograph I shared at 52 Ancestors #2: Favorite Photo.

In my collection of family memorabilia, I have the following valentine, sent from Marguerite to Percy for Valentine's Day, 1923.


The envelope was addressed to Mr. P. E. Hunter, 836 North Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, which was where the family lived during the 1920s and 1930s.


St. Valentine's Day

I'm working on a headset
     That will have a band so wide
We'll listen in together
     As we snuggle side by side.



The back of the page has the following humorous "rules."

All messages taken by this company are subject to the following terms

1--If message is not received it need not be answered.
2--DELAYS: For each hour's delay, company will charge receiver 3600 kopecks.
3--ADJUSTMENTS: Satisfactory adjustments will be made by this company within four years of date on reverse side.
4--MESSAGES will be delivered free if you can fool the messenger boy.
5--WHEN our branch offices are closed they are not open!
6--MESSAGES sent after 2:00 A. M. will not be sent at all-that's much too late (or early).
7--DON'T send night messages unless sender has been to night school.
8--RATES: Straight day rates are twice as much as a fifty word night message plus 4 1/2 a letter for all words starting with G. Proper names only must be used--no swearing. On Tuesdays and Fridays after 4:00 A. M. and not before 6:30 P. M. the day rate is subject to a discount of 3 1/8 c on the first 32 words, and 5 1/6 c on not more than 22 or less than 16 additional words.
9--DAY LETTERS: Will be delivered 6 hours before they are sent excepting on legal holidays, when they will be delivered on the first Monday following.
10--NIGHT LETTERS: On dark nights the rate is increased 12 1/2 %. During full moon period a special cut rate of 1/2 the day rate plus 1/4 the night rate is in effect. HOT AIR messages cannot be sent on hot nights without possibility of damage to ozone. Cold messages at regular rates during the winter months but during heated period there is a service charge for refrigerating.

Blue prints of above rules can be had without charge upon application to our Engineering Dept. Enclose $2.20 to cover cost of packing and a few other things.

The Radiant Reliable Radio Corporation,
I. M. WRIGHT, Pres., Treas., Sec'y., Adv. Mgr., Supt., etc., etc., etc.

~~~~~~~~~

A shared good sense of humor must have been present in this family.

2 comments: