Miss Rachel Morton lived in Oxford, the lovely borough in Chester County that was a center of industry before the slow demise of the railroads and the establishment of the interstate highway system.
Sometime around 1905 (the postmark is very carelessly applied), Miss Morton received a postcard greeting from her friend, Deb.
The postcard, published by Bamforth & Company, was printed in England.
(We have met other comic or light-hearted postcards of the Bamforth Company.)
On the face, a young man and young woman snuggle together beneath a hedgerow.
The woman is wearing a nice red suit, the young man is in a suit, also; the young man holds a straw “boater” in his hand.
Although there are no signs of distress, the legend proclaims, “I’ve got heart trouble”.
Undoubtedly, the “affliction” refers to the breathless, bewildering, disorienting condition of romantic love.
On the reverse, Deb writes, “Have you got any heart trouble…” – an interesting way to inquire if a friend is romantically engaged.
One hopes that Miss Morton, Deb, and any of their beaux, had no lasting ill effects from their youthful adventures in love.