Mr. Raymond Blackford lived in Blairstown, now a census-designated place within Blairstown township in northwest New Jersey.

In 1912, Blairstown had passenger and freight service via the “Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad”.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blairstown,_New_Jersey

In September of 1912, Raymond received a postcard from his friend, Leola.

Leola mailed the postcard from Jersey City, the Hudson River port opposite mid-town Manhattan.

Now the second-largest city in New Jersey, Jersey City remains a center of manufacturing, transportation, and shipping.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_City,_New_Jersey

Blairstown is a little more than 64 miles northwest of Jersey City.

          +          +           +          +          +          +         +

The face of the postcard is a comic scene of thwarted romance.

A young swain embraces his girlfriend on the steps of a tidy porch adorned with climbing roses.

The young couple are well-dressed, as though they have returned from an engagement somewhere.

Behind the amorous couple appears a matron wearing a long apron and wielding an upraised broom.

A printed legend describes the imminent action:

“I Must Stop That Business…”

Although the postcard is intended to be humorous, the situation of the young couple does reflect the strictures imposed by families and small communities that many youth experienced.

The well-made postcard was printed in the US, using the trade-marked “Theochrom” process.

          +           +           +           +           +           +           +

On the reverse, Leola makes no reference to a romantic connection.

Instead, she reports on a recent trip.

Leola writes, “I have had a fine time looking in New York.”

She adds, “I have seen more than I can tell you.”

One hopes that Leola had an occasion to share some of her exploratory adventures with Raymond.

Raymond seems to have appreciated the comic postcard as it was preserved throughout his life.