Boot Camp of World War I

These are interesting. To me it makes a strong connection between the people and the challenges of long ago with those of today. I feel as if I can put myself in their places and know what they are thinking.

I was struck by the horse-drawn battery guns, Ruth.

It is hard to believe that horses were essential to World War I.

Golly Peter - Since I remember a little bit when people were still using horses and buggies, that didn't seem unusual to me. Maybe it's more because I have watched so many western movies.
One thing that bothers me - a little off topic - is when people talk about the simpler times of long ago. They sure don't know what they are talking about. It just points up that they don't know history very well. People had most of the problems we have today except concerning modern technology, And it took a lot more time and knowledge to do what needed to be done. People worked 12 or more hours a day, 6 or 6 1/2 days a week at jobs, and a lot longer on farms. There was very little time for rest and relaxation. And they had to manufacture for themselves a lot of things we buy at stores today. And they had to save up money to pay for things before they could bring them home - no credit in those days except the mortgages on their property.
Those are the people who are talking to us via your post cards all these many years later.

Oh Ruth, this is a "pet peeve" of mine.

I have participated in several discussions here on Gather about simplistic
ideas about the "good old days".

There were far more dangers in ordinary life -no tetanus shots, no antibiotics, for example.

A child who stepped on a nail could get lockjaw.

That first one does have a kind of "photoshopped" look to it...

I thought so, Dave.

Whereas the grenade practice photo does look slapped down on a "pretty sky", the Fording the Stream looks genuine except for the prettifying with blue splashing water, colorful terrain, etc.

Really, Kenn? I find the transition color between the grass and the soldiers to be very jarring on the first photo. Maybe it's intended to represent shadows, but it just doesn't look right to me.

I see what you're referring to, Dave, and I agree it is jarring, but it looks like a sloppy coloring job to me. I maintain that the original b&w version of the battery troupe may have been photographed at this very site (minus trees, perhaps) crossing a stream as shown, but colored later.

Yes, you could be right Kenn. I hadn't thought it was a colorization problem, but it certainly could be. The wagon wheels do seem to kick up the water in the stream.

I believe Kenn is correct, the background was "colorized", like old Black and White movies were done.

"At the antique flea market in New York several weeks ago..."

Can I just lust for a few minutes over your good fortune?

These postcards are actually very artful if you think about it.

You would be most welcome for a trip through the antique "district", Marilee.

Why don't you and Jim visit Manhattan?

We have lots of plans to go there, but our over-night-multi-day babysitter has been tied up (not literally, of course).

We are trying, though.

Note the hats. That Montana Pinch became standard Army issue in 1911.
But before then it had been adopted by the soldiers who' fought in the tropics during the 1898 Spanish American War.
So how did the Park Rangers end up with those smokey bear hats?
In 1899 thru 1905 Cavalry Troopers were sent from San Francisco to protect Yosemite National Park from loggers and open range cattle drives. The units were the 9th and 10th cavalry, the troopers who'd gained fame in the Indian wars, the Buffalo Soldiers (Black Cavalry Troopers.) Since they'd been to Cuba and the Philippines they sported the Montana Pinch (because it drains the water from torrential downpours rather than cup it on top of the head like the normal stetson crease.)
So when the National Park Service set up the "Scouts" which became "Rangers," they received two things as symbols of authority; a badge and the Troopers hat.
So now you know!

a link to Buffalo Soldiers in the park.

This is very interesting, James.

In a earlier postcard story about the picture of a soldier, there was some discussion of headgear for soldiers in World War I.

Thanks for sharing the story of the "Troopers" hat.

Thank you for the info James! I lack fluency in military uniform styles and this will help with potential photo identification in the future.

These scenes look very surreal to me. What bothers me most is that the soldiers have no shadows.

I did notice that the grenade postcard has "Copy by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. Some interesting background information on the Underwood brothers can be found here...

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~dalbino/pcoll2.html