Lizzie Borden was very much a product of her generation of well-heeled spinster ladies and, as such, was never one to forget a kindness; in the manner adopted by many of her contemporaries, she immediately acknowledged gifts, wasting no time in doing so.
And so, on Christmas Day, 1917, our middle-aged woman of obvious means – flawlessly dressed and neatly coiffed – sat at her “inlaid mahogany desk,” selected a postcard illustrated with a Gibson-girl like lady sporting a monocle, dipped nib into ink, and penned a note to her friend, Mrs. Per Ture Eugen Thelen, née Amanda Persson (c.1875-1941) – affectionately called “Manda” – to acknowledge the gifts she had received:
“My dear Manda, my best thanks are yours for the lovely towel and calendar. I was delighted with both. Hope you and the kiddies had a fine Christmas.
Love from L.A.B.”
As was her custom, the postcard was inserted in an envelope – ensuring privacy – and the flap was ornamented with a holiday sticker featuring a bough of ribbon-tied holly. Immediately dispatched, the missive was postmarked and delivered the next day.
Undoubtedly, the “lovely towel” had been worked by Manda – she was extremely adept at fine needlework, and often gave the product of her needle as gifts to friends.
The envelope.
Reverse of envelope.
The postcard. Published by Schlesinger Brothers, New York, New York, the postcard is illustrated with a photomechanical reproduction of a pencil drawing; the firm was in business from 1907 to the early 1920s.
Reverse of postcard with message.
Two years before, in 1915, “Auntie Borden” sent gifts to Manda, and her two daughters, Olga Elinor Thelen (1907-1984), and Anna Victoria Thelen (1910-2006).
The postcard that accompanied Anna’s gift – what was it, I wonder – has survived. Published by the Gibson Art Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, and New York, New York, the postcard is illustrated with beautifully rendered scene with a jolly Santa and a sleeping child.
As one would expect from Lizzie, the card was apropos to the recipient – Anna was five years old at the time.
On the reverse “Auntie Borden” penned:
“Anna from Auntie Borden December 25, 1915”
In place of a postage stamp, Lizzie affixed a decorative Christmas sticker, illustrated with a gift-laden Santa about to descend a chimney; the envelope that originally accompanied the postcard has not survived.
The Postcard. The illustration is signed by the artist, “W. H. Liste.”
Reverse of Postcard with handwritten message.
Fortuitously, thanks to the Thelen family’s affection for their dear “Auntie Borden,” evidence of Lizzie’s holiday gift giving, of gifts she received, and the Christmas cards she sent has survived, and is preserved in the collection of the FRHS.
It is as if the veil of time has been lifted by the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Merry Christmas from Auntie Borden.
