My sister came over this morning after chores. We visited a while which is actually unusual. She and I have never really hit it off. Well anyway. I talked about the post on cursive writing. She stated how she missed getting hand written Christmas cards anymore and really missed the ones from our Great Grand Father. His where almost a work of art. He had beautiful normal hand writing and could write fancy Old English scrip when he had time. He would have my Great Grand Mother pick out a card she liked the picture on and then they would chose a saying or bible verse for that year's cards. He would than take a quill and ink bottle and make each card a personal one in a very fancy old English script. Both my sister and I are looking to see if we still have any of them.
My Great Grand Father passed away in 1969 at the age of 98. He died between Christmas and New Years. He had still sent cards that year. My Great Grand Mother passed less than six months after he did. She basically just wanted to follow him. When he died she was in good health but she was lost without him. They where married 81 years!!!!
Another thing he used to do back in the tough times of the Depression, I have to tell you he MEANT the one in 1893. LOL The drop in values was higher percentage wise then the depression of the 1930s. The 1893 one just did not last as long. I think 3-4 years. He was in his early twenties with a wife and children while earning his living as a black smith. Money was tight. He liked to socialize with many friends. So he and my Great Grand Mother would make hand written invitations for weddings and such as gifts. So as soon as the bride had the date and a guest list he would make personalized invitations for the couple to send. This saved them the cost of printed invitations. People remember that too. I can remember people asking him to do that even after I was old enough to understand. IF the person was a family friend or such he would still do them for them.
When he passed away my Great Grand Mother had a box of cards he had written over the years. They started in the 1880s to the year he died. I think my Mother may still have them.
A thing I always wondered about was he had the shakes (palsy) as he got older. When he went to do somethings like writing his shakes quit. He could hardly drink coffee without spilling it but could still write beautifully. Just a funny thing.
It was kind of funny to see what he could do with his hard work callused BIG hands. His flowing writing was more what you would expect from a dainty woman's hands.
My Great Grand Father passed away in 1969 at the age of 98. He died between Christmas and New Years. He had still sent cards that year. My Great Grand Mother passed less than six months after he did. She basically just wanted to follow him. When he died she was in good health but she was lost without him. They where married 81 years!!!!
Another thing he used to do back in the tough times of the Depression, I have to tell you he MEANT the one in 1893. LOL The drop in values was higher percentage wise then the depression of the 1930s. The 1893 one just did not last as long. I think 3-4 years. He was in his early twenties with a wife and children while earning his living as a black smith. Money was tight. He liked to socialize with many friends. So he and my Great Grand Mother would make hand written invitations for weddings and such as gifts. So as soon as the bride had the date and a guest list he would make personalized invitations for the couple to send. This saved them the cost of printed invitations. People remember that too. I can remember people asking him to do that even after I was old enough to understand. IF the person was a family friend or such he would still do them for them.
When he passed away my Great Grand Mother had a box of cards he had written over the years. They started in the 1880s to the year he died. I think my Mother may still have them.
A thing I always wondered about was he had the shakes (palsy) as he got older. When he went to do somethings like writing his shakes quit. He could hardly drink coffee without spilling it but could still write beautifully. Just a funny thing.
It was kind of funny to see what he could do with his hard work callused BIG hands. His flowing writing was more what you would expect from a dainty woman's hands.
