September 19th 1907 serai to frances Martha mantz

west ealing, London to wood green, london

13 miles

the message

"Dear Frances

I'm sorry I did not see you before you went away but I had another holiday on false pretences. I arrived home as brown as a berry. Had glorious weather. Hope you have settled down by now. I've got a puffed out face this week caused by an abscess. It has been terribly painful. Sarah didn't like it. Au revoir, beaucoup d'amour

Serai

Give my love to Nellie"

the sender

The signature is not clear. It looks like "Serai". That is not enough to identify the sender.

the recipient

For details of Frances Martha Mantz go to

the places

West Ealing, London

Wood Green, London

Ramsgate, Kent

what the card says to us

The picture is of Ramsgate Waterfall which appears to have no connection to the message. There is interesting period detail of a man and a little girl.

The signature on the card is difficult to read. It looks like "Serai" which isn't a recognisable name. It is difficult to conclude anything from that name. Whoever they were, they appear to be lucky to be able to take holidays in hot and sunny places "under false pretences". Too bad about the abscess. How common were abscesses in 1907?

At this point, Frances is back at College.

For details of the whole Frances Martha Mantz series go to