Back before there were photographic school yearbooks, it was not uncommon for young people to have autograph books. They were small notebooks with hard covers that were small enough to fit in one’s pocket. Recently, I found two of them from ancestors of my mother’s father and these are some of the inscriptions I found within.
The first is from circa 1879-80.
To Eddie:
Within this book I find expressed The thoughts of many a human breast And wishes too, the most sincere, To greet the eye and please the ear. Another friend her wish will add And this her wish would be, May you be free from moments sad And happy through eternity.(Minnie Smith)
Most of the Shadows which cross our path are caused by standing in our own Light.(Jim Hogan, ’79)
Faith will conquer, persevere, Even labor with good cheer, Do not turn for things absurd, Mind the things in God’s own word; Use the means at your command, Near to Jesus take your stand; Dare to do what he requires; Practice that which he inspires; Into all his will resign; Every act with faith confine; Ready be, and true till death- Each shall overcome by faith.April 24, 1880.
Eddie,
When days are dark and friends are few, Remember me and I will you.Ritie Felix Kent,
June 1, 1879
You asked me to write in your album But I scarcely know where to begin For there’s nothing original in me Excepting original sin. When in looking these pages over My name you happen to see Remember the writer kindly And always think of me.Alex S.P. Jenning, july 3, ’79.
When you with gay friends do join, Don’t waste a single thought on me. But when you join the happy throng, Just say one word for me.Mrs. SJ Jacobus, 1883.
They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.Lillie Pier, Newark, NJ. July 24, 1879.
Eddie,
Your Album is a garden spot, Where I will plant Forget-me-not.A.J.V., Newark, New jersey, Aug. 1880
May you live long, May you live happy, And get a wife, That’s never snappy.W.J. Kanick, Feb. 9, 1879.
[Rufus: The next ones belong to Inez Elizabeth Pierre, who received her Autograph book for Christmas, 1920.]
Dear Inez, When the golden sun is sinking and your mind from care is free, When a thousand things your thinking, Will you sometimes think of me?With love, Cousin Ruth, Jan. 20, 1921
Dear Inez, May you never feel the color of this page. [Blue]Your friend, Margaret Duchame.
Fruit is soft as soon as ripened. Love and kisses soon grow cold. Young man’s vows are soon forgotten. Look out Inez, don’t get sold. Your loving cousin,Alma Collerd
Dearest Daughter, As the Ripples of the waves Follow the sea May God’s blessings Follow Thee Your LovingMother.
Dear Inez, He who has a thousand friends has not one to spare and he who has one enemy will meet him every where. your friend,Dorothy___________________________
Dear Inez, Little beams of moon shine, Little hugs and kisses, Makes a little maiden Change her name to “Mrs.”Your friend, Isabel, January 2, 1921.______________
Dear inez,
I like vinegar, you like ale I am sold, and your (sic) for sale. Your friend,Hazel E. Kerris, Jan. 30, 1921, Pine Brook, N.J._______
Dear Inez, In the golden chain of friendship Regard me as a link.Sincerely, Marion Ellis
Dear Inez, Northern girls are pretty Western girls are fair Southern girls are sweetest, but none with you compare.Sincerely, Ethel Martin
To Inez, If I should write forget-me-not I know you would not care, So i’ll just turn my motto around Forget me if you dare.Antoinette Stelts
Dear Inez, In the pathway of life You will need an umbrella May yours be upheld By some young fellow.Josephine Heft, Mar.28,1921.
To Inez, May he who clothes the lilies And makes the shadows fall Guide and keep you always And bless you thru it all.Sincerely, Margie Utmane,
Dear Inez, All the wisdom in the world is contained in the two words “Wait and Hope.”A.J.K.
To Inez, Know many, trust few, And always paddle your own canoe.Wm. Lloyd Keris, Jan. 14, 1921
To Inez, In sailing down the stream of life, in a birch canoe May you have a pleasant journey And room enough for two.Your friend, Zelda Manning, Jan. 28, 1921.
Dear Inez, Hair was made to frizz and curl Cheeks were made to blush Eyes were made to wink at boys And lips were made- oh! hush.Your friend, Hilda Shanks, Feb. 27, 1921
Dear Inez, If you want to be blest With heavenly joys, Think more of the Lord, And less of the boys.Your friend, Clarence Thomkins
Dear Inez, May you always glide On the wheels of time Like a bobbed-tail chicken On a watermelon rind. Your friend,Minnie Kerris.
To Inez, May you in life remain the same, Unchanged in all, except your name. Your friend,Marion Schaller
To Inez, Way back here out of sight, I write my name but just for spite.Virginia Horman,
Awesome.Report
I loved the “bobbed-tail chicken on a watermelon rind”!Report
I often read things from the 19th century and am amazed at how well written the people were, how beautifully crafted their use of the language was.
Were they all so adept at expressing themselves, or are we only left with the exemplary ones?
Given that this was a simple autograph book, not a published work, I am tempted to think that use of the language as a medium that needed effort and conscious construction, was a common understanding among even those who were not in the intellectual elite.
Does out use of language compare? I don’t think so. I think we view language as an empty vehicle of meaning, undeserving of deliberate and conscious construction. Does anyone compose thoughts, editing and orchestrating the sentences and paragraphs in a way that has beauty in and of itself? Do we communicate better as a result?Report
Yes. Rappers do often.Report
I didn’t have any sort of camera at the time that I copied these out, which was a shame because the handwriting was also extraordinary.Report
I find most it overblown honestly.
Keep in mind I have never been a great fan of Victoriana. I prefer the clean, modern, airy, and light-filled if a bit sparse to Victorian clutter.
This comes in all things. And my least favorite artists are those most Victorian group:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Raphaelite_Brotherhood especially as they got overblown in pseudo-Middle Ages stuff like:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3PI4TMCMtds/TzVRWFDiLiI/AAAAAAAABaY/FlYO4itZ130/s1600/god_speed.jpgReport
You notice, though, that there’s quite the difference between the two books? The notes in the second one were much more plainspoken. I’m unsure if that’s just because the first was from four decades earlier or if the gender of the recipient played a part in it.Report
Well, half the second book’s comments are all of a kind, really. “I hope you get married AND SOON.” Well, there’s one “quit worrying about getting married.”
There’s only so witty you can get.Report
Right! That’s basically why I posted them- they’re fascinating primary sources.Report
you read them differently than I do.
I read “hope you get a good one.”Report