Miss Mary C. Fulton lived in McSparran, a census-designated place in Fulton Township of southern Lancaster County, PA.
https://www.mapquest.com/us/pennsylvania/mcsparran-pa-283390342
McSparran had a Post Office from 1887-1937.
The name of the community was derived from members of the McSparran family who farmed the area for several generations.
We saw an earlier postcard story related to McSparran: “The Preacher is Cranky and Old”.
In September of 1911, Mary received a postcard from Mattie.
The postcard was mailed from Atlantic City, the popular summer resort on the coast of southeast New Jersey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_City,_New_Jersey
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The face of the postcard is a hand-colored photograph of “Life Savers at Drill” in “Atlantic City, N. J.”
One notices, immediately, the garb of the half-dozen members of the rescue team.
They appear to be wearing pants and boots, and are covered with white coats.
It appears that this is the crew of a sizable rescue boat which is being hauled up the beach on a clever wheeled conveyance.
The appearance of these encumbered “Life Savers” is far removed from the speedo-clad images we now associate with Lifeguards.
It is possible that this boat rescue team was intended for other rescue efforts than those related to the mishaps of individual bathers.
The postcard was published by the American Novelty Company of Atlantic City.
(For fans of the board game “Monopoly”, the publishing office was on Virginia Avenue.)
https://dlab.epfl.ch/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/m/Monopoly_%2528game%2529.htm
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On the reverse, Mattie notes the Life Savers on the face:
“The ones we look for when in bathing.”
Mattie adds an invitation: “Come down soon…”
She asks, “write when you have time.”
Miss Fulton preserved the postcard in very good condition, despite the presence of a disfiguring postmark on the face.
One hopes that Mary was able to share with Mattie the experience of Atlantic City and to watch the life- saving team.
