Collecting postcards: watching the bathers

As summer approaches here in the Northern Hemisphere, we begin to think of trips to the beach. Here, from my collection of turn-of-the-century postcards, is a gorgeous beach scene. 

The woman who sent this, Ethel W, found something funny about the card, which she set out to fix. Although the title of the card is "watching the bathers" Ethel noticed that there were, in fact, very few bathers present, none in the water,  and mostly fully dressed folks sitting on the beach. So she drew some bathers into the water, and wrote on the face of the card, "I don't see many, do you? They forgot to put them in so I had to help them out." 

Here's what she drew. Notice that many of the bathers are cyphers, literally question marks:

We are having a great time.

 

She drew in the bathers

Another detail. Most folks in full dress. A few in bathing costumes.