This comic postcard was addressed to Mrs. A. Y. Harvey, but I cannot determine her location from the several lines on the reverse.

Below her name is the word “Selma”, and beneath that, “Anderson”.

The last line of the address is undecipherable by me.

In May of 1909, Mrs. Harvey received a postcard from her sister, Mabel.

Mabel mailed the postcard from Joplin, the city on the edge of the Ozark Mountains in southwest Missouri.

Soon after the Civil War, lead mining (later, zinc mining) led to the growth of Joplin.

With the coming of the railroads, Joplin became a significant metropolis.

Today, abandoned mines have left ugly slag piles across the region, and 75% of the city is undermined by tunnels and shafts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joplin,_Missouri

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The face of the postcard is a humorous drawing of a woman at two times of the day.

On the left, we see our heroine slouched at a table, reading a book.

Her dress is untidy, and covered with a large apron.

Around her, we see implements of household cleaning.

In her relaxed mood, the woman has kicked off one slipper.

This scene is entitled, “Morning – At Home”.

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On the right, we see an impeccably-dressed woman sauntering out, clutching her parasol.

Her hair is nearly done up under an imposing hat, and her gloves match the tones of her long dress.

The woman’s erect posture and confident pose are a contrast to her morning appearance.

This scene is entitled, “Afternoon – Abroad”.

The postcard was printed in Great Britain by the publisher, Valentine.

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On the reverse, Mabel addresses her “Dear Sister”.

She reports that, “Lizzie and I are here visiting John”.

Mabel promises, “Will tell you all the news when I get home.”

Mrs. Harvey preserved the comic postcard throughout her life.

There are numerous problems with the condition of the postcard, but most of them relate to careless postmarks and ink stains on the face.

The image below has significant digital repair.

One hopes that Mabel and Lizzie enjoyed their visit to Joplin, that they returned safely to Selma, and that Mrs. Harvey heard all the news that was gained by the trip.