LETTERS: MEMORIES ARE CLEAR OF LONG AGO

To the editor:

I am one who has memories of very long ago. I would like to share a few of those memories that without a doubt many can relate to.

Do you remember when the word "pregnancy" was never used? Instead, women were known as being in the family way.

I can remember when pregnancy was so private that women refrained from being seen in public.

I also remember when bloomers were sold in shops for women. Today, they are replaced by a single strip of material that barely covers.

I can remember what a joy it was standing on the corner of Broadway and Ellis waiting for a streetcar to take me downtown.

Do you remember when quarts of milk were delivered to the front porch each morning with the milk freezing over in winter and raising the bottle caps?

I also remember when there were no street lights, and it was very dark, but safe.

I remember clearly our blacksmith shop on Broadway where horses were shod daily.

Do you remember also when there was only one red-light house in Cape that had call girls? The house still stands, but it is quite respectable now.

I remember remaining a child a long time, whereas children today mature very early.

Perhaps my most beautiful memories are of the first Trinity Lutheran Church building that I attended. It was a special and rare treat to receive an apple, an orange and a small box of chocolates after the Christmas children's service. The building has since been demolished.

Memories of the 1900s are endless.

It is my belief there are others who have many memories stored, some being happy and some sad.

But that's life. It always will be. Memories don't change. Life does.

PAULA E. KEMPE

Cape Girardeau