From Lila To Faye (When The Hat Came Off)
What does it mean when someone gifts you three photos of themselves… in 1890?
I found the sweetest little photo thing the other day. I opened up an antique music book from the 1890s at an estate sale, and this tiny slip of paper fell out—just a brown stub tucked inside the middle pages. At first, I thought it was just a torn piece of craft paper. But then I realized it was a handmade card. From Lila to Faye, if we’re naming names.
What I love about this card isn’t just that it’s tiny—3” x 1.5” when folded up accordian style—but that it’s a trifold, triptych photo. It features who I’m assuming is Lila. No need for words or pleasantries when you’re gifting your friend a new music book for her piano lessons and you’ve got three Victorian-era glamour shots of yourself to offer—including one with no hat!
I can only assume this was teacher to student, friend to friend, lover to situation, family member to musical prodigy. One of those. Am I missing any other kind of relationship? I think I’ve covered the bases.
Since Faye kept the card tucked inside the book, I like to think she felt some emotional connection to it. Or maybe she just stuck it in there politely and never opened the book again. Maybe she nodded a silent thanks to Lila, all the while thinking, “I fucking hate the piano.” Was this a chore gift? A passive-aggressive nudge? Lila telling Faye that she needs to try harder at her musical craft?
Whatever the case, I hope the gift didn’t mess up whatever Lila and Faye had going on. I hope it was a lovely “Xmas,” if I may quote Lila.
Gifting a photo card with a tri-fold triptych of yourself says a lot about who Lila might’ve been. Maybe it was a “something to remember me by” gesture—especially if Lila and Faye didn’t live in the same town. And speaking of the inscription, she signed it “From Lila” before “To Faye.” A subtle centering of herself before the recipient. Bold move!
Maybe this card marked a turning point. An ending, or a new beginning. Maybe Lila thought the relationship was more than it was. Maybe she tried to play it casual with the photo card, then went home, tossed her big Easter hat onto the fainting couch, and cried, “I knew the photo card was too much! You pushed her away again, Lila!”