Brace’s Rock, Cape Ann, Mass.

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Initially, four postcards were found that were addressed to Ida L. Vance; since then we ran across a fifth. This is just the third one getting up on the website, and though it was postmarked in May, it reminds me of chilly November weather (in keeping with a fall-going-into-winter theme.) It’s a view in shades of black and grey on a cream-colored background, of Cape Ann with the lighter-colored rock formation being Brace’s Rock.

See this Wiki article regarding American artist Fitz Henry Lane (1804 – 1865) for another view:  the artist’s painting, Brace’s Rock, Eastern Point, Gloucester (circa 1864).

Braces Rock Eastern Point Gloucester by Fitz Henry Lane

But from browsing through historical newspapers, what is striking, is the sense of forgotten history, but also of the contrast between today and “yesterday” when the East Coast waters seemed to be full of schooners, steamers, whalers, and newspapers and journals were full of reports on the same. Stepping back a little further in time (just through the fog…)

Storms and wrecks

From a December 1859 article in American Traveler, regarding the wreck of the schooner Prudence Nickerson, who’s crew (or captain or both) mistook another ship’s light for that of (presumably) a lighthouse:  “The light proved to be that of the steamer M. Sanford, lying at anchor between Ten Pound Island and the Point, and was seen over the low land at Brace’s Cove. The Prudence ran a short time when she struck on the eastern end of Brace’s Rock, and went to pieces in about two hours. The captain and crew succeeded in getting on the rock by means of the main bottom, although one of them was nearly washed off in the attempt. They saved nothing but what they had on and remained on the rock till daylight, when they waded ashore.”

From the Shipping News, Vol. VI, Issue 314, an article that had appeared in the Salem Gazette, regarding a violent storm in October of 1792,  “Capt. Samuel Ingersoll, of Beverly, homeward bound from Port-au Prince, ran upon rocks at Brace Cove, and lost all but the people’s lives.”

On a lighter note

Regarding the steamer Reindeer’s pleasure excursion in July of 1865 reported in the Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph:

“Leaving Fort Wharf at half past twelve, the steamer soon passed around Eastern Point and turned her head to the eastward. To those who had not sailed in that direction before, it was pleasing to note the different points of local interest that had been visited time and again from the land. Brace’s Rock and Cove, Pebble Stone beach, Bass rocks, Little Good Harbor beach, Salt Island, Long beach and Milk Island, each in succession presented a different aspect from what the landsman had been accustomed to observe when visiting those places.”

A sea “monster”

Two offerings from February and January 1870, appearing in the Cape Ann Advertiser:

“The great curiosity found by Mr. Barrett, at Brace’s Cove, is on exhibition at No. 108, Front street. It is pronounced something remarkable, and no one, as yet, can tell what it really is.” 

Further investigation showed the earlier report:

A Great Curiosity. – Mr. Moses Barrett, of East Gloucester, recently found at low water mark, at Brace’s Cove, a most singular object, which resembles the head of some kind of marine monster. It is in form of an owl’s head, with large bony projections which look like ears. Its weight is about seventy-five pounds, and it bears evidence of having been in the water some years. Hundreds have visited it the present week, and all pronounce it a remarkable curiosity.”

Wow – was it a hoax or real? If real, here’s to hoping though that the poor sea creature was given some thought (by many) to being something more than just a curiosity or scientific specimen. (Cecil and Beanie was my favorite cartoon.)

Undivided back, used postcard. Postmarked May 3, 1906 from Gloucester, Massachusetts. Publisher:  The Rotograph Co., New York. Printed in Germany.

Price:  $7.00

Sources:  Fitz Henry Lane. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitz_Henry_Lane. (accessed November 28, 2015).

“Ship News. Disasters &c”. American Traveler. Boston. Saturday, December 17, 1859. (Genealogybank.com)

“Marine Intelligence”. Salem Gazette. Tuesday, October 16, 1792. Shipping News, Vol. VI, Issue 314, p. 3. (Genealogybank.com)

“Isle of Shoals”. Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph. Saturday, July 22, 1865, p. 2. (Genealogybank.com)

“Off-hand Local Jottings”.  Cape Ann Advertiser. Friday, February 4, 1870, p. 2. (Genealogybank.com)

“A Great Curiosity”. Cape Ann Advertiser. Friday, January 28, 1870, p. 2. (Genealogybank.com)

A Case Of Lock-Jaw

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Undivided back, artist-signed, used postcard. Postmarked September 6, 1905 from West Hoboken, New Jersey. Artist:  Antlers.

Price:  $10.00

“Sept 6. I am afraid you will be in such a case some day. have you got over to homestead yet. I am going down to Uncle H’s today so write then. Herman.”

Addressed to:   “Miss Mabel Wildrick, 30 Tonnelle ave, West Hoboken, N. J.  % Geo Bartow.”

This postcard was sent to Mabel J. Wildrick, born June 1888, from her younger brother, Herman P. Wildrick, born October 1889, New Jersey born (both). From the 1900 Federal Census taken in Stillwater Township, NJ:  They are with their parents, Jacob B. Wildrick, born June 1863 and Susan E. born August 1859, both in NJ. He is a foreman at a creamery.  Also in the household is Arthur Linaberry, born October 1879 in New Jersey, who is the nephew to head of head of household, Jacob.

Find A Grave shows the entry for the Wildricks, and gives Susan E. Wildrick’s maiden name as Youmans. Arthur Linaberry turns out to be Susan (Youmans) Wildrick’s nephew, son of Phillip Linaberry and Martha D. Youmans. And George Bartow (the “care of” on the postcard) appears to be related on the Linaberry side, with Phillip Linaberry showing up on an Ancestry tree with the middle name of Bartow.

As for the artist, Antlers, his identity was not found. He did a whole comic series though, about mosquitoes, and those postcards, dated 1905 and 1906, are easily found at the moment for sale on eBay and other sites.

Lastly, Mabel’s younger brother Herman, that funny guy (!) was correct about his older sister. She did get herself into that “lock-jaw predicament” and got married to a gentleman named Orestes Hendershott. And we’re adding this post to our category of Unusual First Names. 

Sources:  Year: 1870; Census Place: Blairstown, Warren, New Jersey; Roll: M593_892; Page: 26B; Image: 56; Family History Library Film: 552391. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1900; Census Place: Stillwater, Sussex, New Jersey; Roll: 995; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0175; FHL microfilm: 1240995. (Ancestry.com)

“New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC2S-1L8 : accessed 8 November 2015), Phillip B Linabery in entry for Linabery, 23 Jul 1885; citing Warren, New Jersey, reference Vol. 21; FHL microfilm 494,203.

Find A Grave Memorial# 39988077. (Findagrave.com) Accessed November 8, 2015.

Find A Grave Memorial# 39988436. (Findagrave.com) Accessed November 8, 2015.

Blackpool From The Air

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From an unknown with writing talent, this aerial view of the beach and coastline at Blackpool, Lancashire, England, is described on the back of the card:

“This is the holiday haunt of thousands of workers from the Industrial Midlands – or it was the only holiday place for them until recent years – when they have become so affluent and ‘adventurous’ that holidays on the Continent have somewhat superseded it. Not a place for one who enjoys the beach in its natural state but the ‘Entertainment Mecca’ of resorts.”

That’s the Blackpool Tower dominating the photo, a tourist attraction inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and opened to the public in May of 1894, which was only just over five years after le tour Eiffel opened.

Divided back, Commercial Real Photo Postcard, unused with writing. Publisher:  Saidman Bros., Blackpool, Lancashire, England. “A Real Colour Photograph” Copyrighted by publisher. Printer:  Jarrold & Sons, Ltd. Norwich, England. Number or series:  KBL 163. Circa 1950s – 1960s.

Price:  $6.00

Sources:  The Blackpool Tower. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_Tower. (web accessed September 26, 2015).

Eiffel Tower. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower. (web accessed September 26, 2015).

Budleigh Salterton, East Devon, England

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“Dear Ellie. Thought I had better let you know that I am not going to the theatre. Hope you will enjoy your little gift. Best love, Janey[?]”

Addressed to:   “Miss E. Potts, 6 Cholmley St., Hull.”

Circa 1902 – 1910

The postmarked year is partially missing on this one. It was sent from Hull, England in February, and true, we see the number 6 there but was that part of the year or the date in the month of Feb? The stamp is a Great Britain 1/2d (halfpenny) King Edward VII; first issued January 1, 1902 in a blue-green color; the yellow-green was first issued November 26, 1904. Since Edward VII died May 6, 1910, the era for this stamp’s issuance is given as 1902 – 1910. (In comparing this stamp’s color to those showing online, I’m undecided as to whether this is the blue-green or yellow-green; it almost looks like a faded version of the blue-green.)

Yes or No

As for the addressee, Ellie Potts, there are several possibilities under Ellie and Eleanor, an exact match with the above address not being found. And the unknown publisher’s “Yes or No” series (great name) fits the sender’s message:  No, she is not going to the theater.

Pebbles and Fossils

About the front image:  This beach is famous for the Budleigh Salterton Pebble Beds. What’s a pebble exactly? Well, I thought I knew what a pebble was, but it is defined as,  “…a clast of rock with a particle size of 2 to 64 millimetres based on the Krumbein phi scale of sedimentology.”  Larger than a granule and smaller than a cobble. (Heehee, if this helps you.) And fossils in the form of shells can be found inside many of the pebbles on this beach. It’s allowable to split the pebbles open, but illegal to take them with you. Just take a photo and leave for others to look at. See UK Fossils for more detailed information.

About a century

The photo below from the website Coastal Connect shows a similar view to the one on our postcard….about one hundred years later.

Budleigh

Divided back, Great Britain, used postcard. Circa 1902 – 1910. Postmarked from Hull, England in February, year unreadable. Publisher info:  “Yes or No” Series.

Price:  $15.00

Sources:  Stamps on postcards – A guide to dating cards. 1902 – 1910 King Edward VII. http://sunnyfield.co.uk/dayspast/stamps_on_postcards.php. Web accessed September 22, 2015.

Pebble. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebble. (web accessed September 26, 2015).

Budleigh Salterton fossils and fossil collecting. http://www.budleigh.ukfossils.co.uk/. Web accessed September 22, 2015.

Photo, Budleigh Salterton Beach. Coastal Connect.http://www.coastalconnect.co.uk/Budleigh-Salterton.html. Web accessed September 26, 2015.

Frederick At The Sea-Shore

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“My dear Aunt Hetty: –  Here I am at the sea-shore, well and happy. I send love to Marie and Aunt Flora your loving, Frederick.”

Addressed to:   “Mrs. H. L. Demarest, 468 Ellison St., Paterson N. J.”

The adorable little boy in the photo above is Frederick L. Low, son of Frank E. Low and Mary W. (Doremus) Low, born September 9, 1899 in Paterson, NJ. Aunt Hetty is Hetty (Low) Demarest, Frank’s sister. The 1910 Federal Census for Paterson shows the family, including Frederick’s older brother, Donald, some of the Doremus family, and house servant Minnie Wood.

From seaside to silk

Fred Low followed his father, Frank into the silk trade, and at the age of twenty was learning the business from him, via their employer Robert Lang & Co., who had offices in Paterson, N.J. and Shanghai, China. Passport applications in 1919 can be found for both Fred and his parents, revealing a proposed trip to encompass Hong Kong, China and Japan, with intended time abroad to last about four months. Here is Fred’s passport photo, and just imagine the childhood years in Paterson flowing by for the little boy above, to the young man below.

Fred Low passport photo

An excerpt from the passport affidavit:

“…the said Frank E. Low is the father of said Frederick L. Low, and that they both reside at Ridgewood, N. J.; that said Frank E. Low is the secretary and manager of Robert Lang and Company, raw silk importers, with offices at 152 Market St., Paterson, N.J., and that the said Frederick L. Low is also employed by said Robert Lang and Company, at said place, and at its ware-house, 58 Fair St., Paterson, N. J.

“That the place of business of said Robert Lang and Company, and where its raw silk is produced and marketed, is at Shanghai, China; that the business of said Company has grown to such an extent that it is necessary that said Frank E. Low make a trip to China to confer with the other stockholders, directors, and officers of said Company, said Frank E. Low being the only stockholder, director, or officer of said Company, who resides in the United States.

“Said Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, and its principal office is at 152 Market St., Paterson, N.J.

“It is necessary that said Frederick L. Low accompany said Frank E. Low because he is learning the raw silk business and is to assist his father in the conduct of said business. It is essential that he familiarize himself with the growing and producing end of the business.”  (sworn and subscribed Sept 16, 1919)

Last but not least

Of interest also, is the beautifully designed back header with it’s little bird carrying a letter and with flowing lines that include a feather quill pen. This was still the era of the Private Mailing Card, which ran from the date given in the header till December 1901.

Private Mailing Card with Real Photo. Unused with writing. Circa 1901.

Price:  $20.00    Size:  About 5 and 3/8 x 3 and 1/8″

Sources:  Year: 1910; Census Place: Paterson Ward 4, Passaic, New Jersey; Roll: T624_906; Page: 22A; Enumeration District: 0119; FHL microfilm: 1374919

“New Jersey, Marriages, 1678-1985,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZKP-X9Z : accessed 19 July 2015), Frank E. Low and Mary W. Doremus, 02 Apr 1890; citing 495,712.

Year: 1880; Census Place: Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey; Roll: 796; Family History Film: 1254796; Page: 157C; Enumeration District: 157; Image: 0097

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – March 31, 1925; Roll #: 920; Volume #: Roll 0920 – Certificates: 118750-118999, 19 Sep 1919-20 Sep 1919

Busy Persons Correspondence Card

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1942 bathing beauties for Mr. J. Matthews from his son Jack, on one of those “check off your responses” type of card. Sometimes they were straight-forward, sometimes wacky, depending both on the card choices and the sender. In this case, Jack indicated:

“Calif., Nov. 3. Dear Dad, This place is beautiful. The weather is warm and dry. The people are friendly. I’m feeling fine and happy. I spend my time sightseeing. I need sleep. Give my love to all the folks. Yours sincerely.”   On the back he wrote:

“Dear Dad, How are you I am fine. It is nice country here but I prefer the East. Write to me you have my address. Jack.”  Addressed to:

“Mr. J. Matthews, 291 Orange St., Albany, N.Y.”

Underneath the postmark is Jack’s address:

“J.V. Matthews. S. 36 [?] US Navy, Batt 27 HDQ Co A-B, Port Hueneme, Calif.”

“We Build, We Fight.”

From a little research online, and of the course, the year of the postcard indicating WWII, it looks like Jack was a part of the “Seabees.” This term is from the initials “C.B.” which stands for Construction Battalion, and their motto is,  “We Build, We Fight.”  Both the 27th and 37th Battalion at Port Hueneme (pronouced “Why-nee-mee”) were part of the Seabees, (so even if it’s 37 rather than 27 in his address on the card, the branch of service still fits.) Below is the Seabee’s emblem (courtesy Wikipedia.)

Which Matthews family did Jack belong to?

The 1943 Albany, NY city directory shows the 291 Orange St. address as the residence of John V. Matthews, machinist, and his wife, Adeline R. Matthews. A couple of entries above lists John Matthews, USA, residence 291 Orange. “USA” in this directory is the abbreviation for United States Army (an error since Jack was in the Navy in ’42?) A quick further search in city directories shows Jack and Adeline at this address at least as early as 1938.

City directory findings led to various census records. The 1900 for Philadelphia shows two-month-old John V. Matthews, with parents, James and Isabella, both born in Ireland, and William Matthews, brother to James, also born in Ireland. And finally a 1961 death record for Jack (always hate to mention these, sentimentally having become fond of the person who, in this case, sent this nice postcard to his dad) but that shows Jack was born in Philadelphia in 1900, lists wife Adeline, and parents’ names, James Matthews and Isabelle (Devlin) Matthews, thus confirming his parentage.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked November 3, 1942. “U.S. Navy.” Publisher:  Tichnor Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass. “Tichnor Quality Views” Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. “Busy Person’s Correspondence Cards – 10 Designs.” Series or number 65157. 

Price:  $15.00

Sources:  Seabees in World War II. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabees_in_World_War_II (accessed July 18, 2015).

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Albany City Directory, Vol. CXXX. p. 266. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 38, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1479; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0975; FHL microfilm: 1241479

Ancestry.com. Menands, New York, Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011

Surf Bathing In The Pacific

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Here’s a colorful card of a southern California beach scene, with reports about the weather, the tourists, and the 1908 presidential race. “Bryan” was William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate who ended up losing to William Taft. Note that the postmarked date of the card shows just two days prior to the election.

Addressed to:   “Mr. John Pugh, Kahoka, Missouri, R.F.D.# 6.”  The sender wrote:

“Papa, you ought to be in ‘sunny’ California this winter. The paper today stated there had been two – thousand tourists come in the last month. We have not had much rain yet and it is very warm and pleasant in the middle of the day. I suppose you are holloring ‘Hurrah for Bryan.’ A good many here think he will be elected. Della.”

The 1900 Federal Census for Union Township, Clark County, MO identifies Ohio natives John Pugh and his wife Emeline, and their daughters, Della F. and Carrie Pugh, both born in Missouri. John, occupation farmer, was born about April 1843; Emeline was born about August 1849; Della was born about September 1874, and Carrie, about April 1888. Union Township is southwest of Kahoka, about 13 minutes in driving time.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked November 1, 1908 from Los Angeles, California. Publisher info:  A. A. 6. Newman Post Card Co., Los Angeles, California. Number or series 62232. Made in Germany.

Price:  $10.00

Sources:  United States presidential election, 1908. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1908. (accessed July 9, 2015).

Year: 1900; Census Place: Union, Clark, Missouri; Roll: 848; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0029; FHL microfilm: 1240848. (Ancestry.com)

In Northern Seas

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From one end of the country to the other:  We were on the coast of Maine in the last post, and this one looks like it might be Alaska, but there’s no information under than the caption,  “In Northern Seas”  appearing at the bottom, with the series or postcard number 3416, from the unknown publisher. The artist’s name is not appearing either, but it’s a beauty, showing what must be a summer scene:  rugged mountains with very little snow, a beach, a small fishing village and a boat out on the calm water. I like how the suns rays are depicted and the haziness off in the distance at the mouth of the inlet. This one is from the Lena Davis Collection, and the sender wrote:

“July 20 1910. We are all well hope this findes you the same. We are all done harvesting going to thresh next week. I have him[?] working for Charley for $2 [$12?] a day. I am home now will get done laying by corn in a day and a half. It is pretty dry now corn look wilted. how is the fruit out their. haven’t got any bear [beer?] had a fine time the forth they have had a dance in the grove since then. P.C.[?]   Answer sooner than I did if you have time.” 

Addressed to:   “Miss Lena Davis, Ceres, Calif., R.R. Box 67 [?]”

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked July 21, 1910 from Arapahoe, Nebraska. Unknown artist and publisher. Series or number 3416.

Price:  $10.00

 

Puerto Armuelles, Panamá

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Divided back, Real Photo Postcard. Postmarked May 11, 1947. Republic of Panamá.

Price:  $25.00

Here’s a Real Photo Postcard from the Republic of Panamá, 1947. The cancellation mark is too blurred to read the city. The sender wrote:

“Hi Sweet:  Here is a picture of our ship! and by the way, I got the dates[?] wrong on the letter. I…?… to you:  Will explain in the 4th coming letter!  Love. Frank.”

The card was addressed to:   “Miss Jeanette Hume, 2100 Virginia St., Virginia Court #6, Berkeley, Calif.”

Well, here is a mystery. What was the name of this ship? It’s always interesting, and quite frustrating, when you can almost make out a detail like the name on the hull. I looked at ship photos on various online sites but didn’t come up with a match. And this is part of the Alice Ellison Collection. Many more to come.

By The Sad Sea Waves

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Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked June 2, 1908, Idaho (city unknown.) Publisher unknown.

Price:  $20.00 

A wonderfully unusual postcard showing a drawing of a man in an old-fashioned bathing suit (the card is postmarked 1908) who is bald on top with a fringe of hair around the side. He has a large belly, has his dog with him, and they are standing at the seashore, crying. The waves are sad and are crying and the clouds are also crying. A sailboat appears off in the distance. Much of the drawing is in blue, like a pen and ink type drawing, but it has a beautiful bright yellow color for most of the sand and waves. (The poor dog looks so sad.)

The surprising thing (for most of us) is that the caption for this one has been around a while. And it is just so fascinating to make these types of discoveries; looking back over a week’s worth of research, and getting that sense of the postcard turning into kind of an invisible, then visible doorway. The doorway materializes (a shimmery effect I’d say) at the point of realization that there’s so much more to this one than meets the eye. The phrase in the spotlight for this post had lasted for at least 77 years. Who knows for sure who coined the original?  By The Sad Sea Waves also came up referenced on a great website for slang of the Old West, which got me imagining the reverse of us looking back:  those in the past looking forward at us (why not? It’s a physics thing) and finding our sayings today just as perplexing, interesting and delightful as we find theirs. This postcard takes us back through the years and touches different media, from film in 1917, which was going forward from the postcard date – back to a newspaper cartoon in 1905, back to a music hall song in 1895, back to several paintings, one of which is circa 1878, and prior to that a ballad in an opera written in about 1844. Starting with the most recent and traveling backward we have:

Comedian Harold Lloyd in one of the scenes from the silent movie By The Sad Sea Waves, which debuted in 1917. (By permission from Harold Lloyd Entertainment.)

Harold Lloyd in BTSSW

Political cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman’s By the Sad Sea Waves, which appeared in the Washington Post, August 31, 1905. The gentleman in the postcard has similar characteristics to one of the characters below. (And the captions are a scream.)

Berryman BTSSW Cartoon

Music hall song lyrics for By The Sad Sea Waves written in 1895 by Lester Barret and Lester Thomas:

“In the glorious summer season, everybody takes a trip,

To the seaside; for enjoyment, on the sands they gaily skip;

Married men with wives and children, single Johnnies, on the mash;

Pretty girls who seek for husbands, who have pockets full of cash.

By the sad sea waves, where the ladies are so charming;

By the sad sea waves, in the glorious summer time,

With their fetching smiles and dresses, rosy lips and golden tresses,

Shady nooks and sly caresses, by the sad sea waves.

At the boarding house in Newport, Percy Vere met Gladys Gray;

Soon he showed his fond affection, took her driving every day.

By his tone he seemed  a marquis, she had jewels in galore;

So they formed a love engaqement, as they strolled along the shore.

By the sad sea waves, every night he took her strolling;

By the sad sea waves he would swear his heart was gone!

She’s the only girl he sings to, she’s the girl he says nice things to,

Promised lovely diamond rings to, by the sad sea waves!

When their holidays were over and they had to say adieu;

He, to join his yacht at Brighton, she to join her papa too;

They agreed to write each other Billet Doudlets every day,

And when he’d his mansion ready, they’d be married right away.

From the sad sea waves back to business, in the morning’

From the sad sea waves, to his humble ‘five a week!’

In a cafe he goes dashing, who should bring his plate of hash in,

But the girl he had been mashing by the sad sea waves!

 

British artist Frederick William Hayes’ (1848-1918) oil painting By The Sad Sea Waves. (Photo credit to Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust. Used by permission from the BBC website Your Paintings.)

Frederick William Hayes BTSSW

An engraving appearing in The Art Journal of the painting By The Sad Sea Waves by British-born American artist John George Brown (1831-1913.) The original painting was displayed in an exhibit in 1878 at the National Academy in New York.

Art by J G Brown

Sheet music with cover showing announcement for England-born opera singer Sara Elizabeth Flower’s (1823-1865) performance in 1850 of the ballad By The Sad Sea Waves from the opera The Brides Of Venice. (1844) Music by Sir Julius Benedict, lyrics by J. L. Lambert. The performance took place May 3, 1850 at the Royal Victoria Theatre in Sydney, Australia. (Obtained online from National Library of Australia.)

Sheet Music Cover BTSSW

BTSSW1BTSSW2BTSSW3BTSSW4

There is also a poem attributed to I. L. Cosham under the title By The Sad Sea Waves which appears in an 1895 publication of The Fisherman, a monthly publication for The Gloucester Fisherman’s Institute. Not much was found for Cosham other than a reference to “Celtic Poets.” A watercolor painted in 1853 titled By The Sad Sea Waves was found for England-born Australian artist Charles Norton (1826-1872) and as you can guess, a number of other references to or works of art under the same title, show up online (which we won’t get to here, being anxious to move on to the next subject.) But we’re left with that delightful feeling of having explored some hitherto unknown roads.

Almost last but not least, this one is part of the Alice Ellison Collection. The sender writes:

“Hello Cousin, Hope you are well now. Be good and come to see me. Also send me a postal if you please. Lentie.”  The card is addressed to:  “Miss Bessie Ellison, 26th & Cheyenne Ave., Pueblo, Colo.”

Lastly, the same postcard is showing up for sale online, in a couple of places at the time of this post, for between about one dollar and several dollars. Were this card in very good condition, I would be want to place the value at about $20.00 because of the history attached to it, but it’s certainly not in good shape, what with the missing left corner. If interested in purchasing, just make an offer.

Sources:  Scheer, Ron. “Glossary of frontier fiction: B (buck ague – ‘By the Sad Sea Waves’).”  Buddies in the saddle, September 28, 2013. Web accessed 27 Jul 2014.

U.S. Senate, Office of Senate Curator, Berryman Political Cartoon Collection. (compiled 1896-1949) National Archives identifier 6010614. Web accessed 27 Jul 2014.

Barret, Lester and Thomas, Lester, song By the Sad Sea Waves (1895). From monologues.co.uk Music Hall Lyrics Collection. Accessed 22 Jul 2014

Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust. Your Paintings.
Copyright British Broadcasting Company. n.d. Web accessed 27 Jul 2014.

Brown, John G., painting By The Sad Sea Waves.
The Art Journal for 1878, Vol. 4. D. Appleton & Co., New York. p. 289. Web accessed 26 Jul 2014. (Google eBooks)

John George Brown. n.d. In Wikipedia. Accessed 25 Jul 2014.

Gyger, Alison. “Flower, Sara Elizabeth (1823-1865).”  Australian Dictionary of Biography. 2005. Web accessed 24 Jul 2014.

Benedict, Julius and Lambert, J.L., Ballad By the Sad Sea Waves, National Library of Australia, Digital Music Collections, an14181939. Web. Accessed 30 Jul 2014.

Julius Benedict. n.d. In Wikipedia. Accessed 27 Jul 2014.

Cosham, I. L. poem By The Sad Sea Waves. The Fisherman. Vol. 1, No. 6, June 1895. The Gloucester Fisherman’s Institute. p. 96. Web. Accessed 27 Jul 2014. (Google eBooks)

Norton, Charles. Watercolor painting By the Sad Sea Waves. State Library of Victoria. Web.Accessed July 27, 2014.