Runners? Beautiful Antique RPPC of A Bit of a Motley Group of Young Men needleworkj and I know that Middse

and I know that Middse refers to Middlesex

an evangelical organization founded in 1825 for the purpose of publishing and disseminating tracts of Christian literature

written I believe by whoever originally purchased the photo on their Grand Tour

They bear what I believe their original black stain/paint

stretched tight underneath) and the loss of one knit stocking and leather bootie along the way

Runners? Beautiful Antique RPPC of A Bit of a Motley Group of Young Men needleworkj and I know that MiddseI presume the young men with handwritten numbers pinned to their chest here are runners, but I might guess what connects the somewhat mottly looking group as a whole is something else. Whatever the case, I love the mix of faces and postures and outfits here, and find the image very tender feeling and quite beautiful. Found in Pennsylvania, c. 1910s 20s I believe. 5 7 16 x 3 3 8". Small burn mark lower left corner and a bit to lower right corner too.