march 1st 1908 L Clarke to henrietta trott

torquay, devon

0 miles

the message

"My sister will be much obliged if you could let her know her shift this week. We will call on Wednesday if suitable to you if not kindly let us know.

With kind love

L Clarke"

the sender

The only clue to the identity of L Clarke is that his or her sister is employed in some way by Henrietta Trott.

the recipient

Details of Henrietta Trott and her family can be found by following this link to another card that she received in 1907

the places

Torquay, Devon

what the card says to us

The picture shows The Needles on the Isle of Wight (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Needles). There appears to be no connection to the families or the message.

The message is interesting. Henrietta was a dressmaker. Did she have her own business in Torquay? Is that why the sender's sister wanted to know what shift she would be working. This postcard is an e-mail. When was a reply expected? The card was posted on a Sunday. There is a tentative arrangement to call on Henrietta on Wednesday 4th March. That is half way through the week. So when is the shift for the sister? And how long is it? So many questions.

Also, why isn't the sister sending the card? Perhaps she couldn't write? 

The phrasing is unusual, e.g. "if suitable to you". It reads as if there is some social climbing being attempted, but maybe that is unfair.