Spooning in Oneida – Oneida, NY (1908)

Miss Ruby Kroff, possibly Kropp, lived in Oneida – a city in Madison County of central New York State.

Oneida grew up as the Erie Canal spurred the movement of goods and produce through central New York in the 19th century.

The city became a famous center of manufacturing silverware and china.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida,_New_York

In June of 1908, Ruby received a postcard from a correspondent with the initials, J. L. S.

The postcard was mailed from Oneida, so we may assume that the correspondent lived nearby.

The face of the postcard is a gilded and embossed romantic scene.

A pair of lovers embrace and kiss on a rustic bench beside a wooded path.

The woman, wearing a dress and chic hat, is seated on the bench; her lover, dressed in a suit and tie, kneels beside her.

The message in glittering, gilt lettering is “Spooning in Oneida, N.Y.”

“Spooning”, in contemporary usage, usually suggests a specific kind of cuddling.

In the early 20th century, however, “spooning” referred to any kind of amorous or flirtatious behavior.

https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/spooning/

The postcard was printed by the United Art Publishing Company of New York; the postcard was printed in Germany.

(This postcard was damaged -the edges appear to have been sheared unevenly, perhaps to fit into a smaller frame.)

On the reverse, there is a very brief message: 

“I am waiting for (a) card.”

There is not enough information here to infer anything about the relationship between Miss Ruby and the sender, but the tone of the inscription suggests it might be an impatient suitor.

One hopes that Miss Ruby was quick to respond, and that the correspondence resumed for many years.

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