Part 27

To Mrs. Jane Gleason send this away; Please send it off without delay To Ripleyville P. O., if it goes aright; She will surely get it on Thursday night, In Huron county, Ohio State: There she lives, or did of late. Send it in haste, it will give her joy, For she wants to hear from her soldier boy.

To John Gillespiee Camp. Cade. Dell. A Ware. Pa.

Meaning Camp Cadwalader.

To Peter Smith 1209 Cartridge St. 3. Este. Av. near 3 Esher.

Mr. Isaac Bakerson Cam. Cal. Walter Ner. Filladelphy R. 2 1 N. E.

To Phil. Monitze n care of mister John dick filladelfy. Kensession. America.

To My Mother— America

Connected with this letter is the following incident: it fortunately came to Philadelphia, and, of course, from its superscription was placed apart to find its way to the dead-letter-office. One day a poor Irishwoman came to the window and asked for a letter from her son, giving no name. The simplicity of the question struck the clerk, and the letter addressed “To My Mother” flashed upon his mind. He turned to the case and selected the letter.

“Where does your son reside? what part of Ireland?”

“Belfast, sir.” Belfast was the post-mark.

“What is his name?”

“Patrick McLaughlan.”

“Open that letter,” handing her the one in question. She did so, and, casting her eyes on the signature, exclaimed, “From my son! from my boy!” Sure enough, there was the name,—Patrick McLaughlan.

The clerk gave her some instructions for future correspondence which probably proved of advantage to her.

Somebody sent a newspaper through the mails the other day directed as follows: “To Honest Father Abraham, God bless him, Washington, D. C.”

The following is a literal copy of the superscription of a registered letter received from Ireland, written, strange as it may seem, in a “clerkly hand”:—

To this letter I pray attend To A lady Late of Ireland To the maiden’s name ascribe the thing To Late miss Eliza King To get success in your routes Take this to america or thereabouts.

The Army is the tightest place I ever did get into, I cannot pay the freight on this, Although I really want to; I’ve “nary red,” but five months due— Don’t think it’s “on the level”— Postmaster, you may send this through, Or chuck it to the d—l.

To Patrick Larkin who moved to his brothers at Adamsville in haste to the care of Bernard Larkin State of Penlyva.

To Albert Walker, an awful talker, Who lives in Salina—you won’t find a meaner If you travel all day through the State of I-O-A.

My fair is paid in postel rate, To Kingston Township, New York State, To Frederick Johnston, from a friend in Troy, ’Tis how are you, my conscript boy?

To a Mr. Service this letter I write, And I’ll start across the plains to night; For the over-land mail is now running through Down the South Platte, and across the Big Blue, The Sioux, and the Cheyennes, have failed in their plan To stop the mail of Old Uncle Sam, And over the plains, I now can go straight, To the Old Quaker City, and the Keystone State.

Across the river quickly send me, In doing so do not rend me, Take me to Gussie Wurderman, Carry me quick and do it well, Or Corney Walborn will catch——_rats!_

To Sxl2 Thes. Johnes Haile Alley towne. Des. Unetede Stateese. Pencil.

_Deth, in hast._

We doubt if this letter ever reached its destination.

It is somewhere along the Jersey shore Thirty miles belong long branch and more, For if this should fail to set you right Its about 28 miles above Barnegets light.

To Miss ——————————————x.

To Jno. Tripler Ridge avenue Deap Pot. Sleep Eaves Phila

To John Jones, a laboring man This letter must go if e’er so lucky He shoes can make, and leather tan In Lexington town, in old Kentucky.

If the Postmaster knows an alley In the city, called—Vandally No 10—this letter, may by chance Reach the sight of Mary Hance.

To Patric Gonegan Pisin road, South Work Knavee yarde, or theire somware filedelphirea

John Shmeet Shermummerbauner Roth began Wester And Jamphen St.

A literal translation, after much study of the dead languages, the following was the result:—

John Smith Germantown Road Between Master & Thompson

Ns Duniel lesunt Yost nrpfflen pliladelpha Pa in Ceuse ob obed Eas make

All Greek to the clerks.

Gasnot Hill Hoss Spittall, for Mrs. C. Gellengham.

For Dan, that was In Smith’s Store.

No other direction.

In care of mister John Dick filladelfy King’s Sessions, mericai

The “New York Tribune” gives the following amusing addresses, in rhyme and otherwise, that have passed through the post-office in that city:—

To be forwarded to Margaret Flynn and from you Margaret to your brother Jack and Sister Honora Sister Ellen and Michael In care of Mr. Wm. H. Baldwin E. S. K, America.

Another:—

To John Barry, if living, but if not, to his wife, or some of the children if living, and if not to some respectable neighbor.

Speed on little missive to Marble Head, And find old Joe Sweet either living or dead, If he’s living of course he’ll read this letter But if he’s dead why all the better.

MASS.

Swift as the dawn your course pursue Let nought your speed restrain Until you meet Miss Mary Drew In Newfield State of Maine.

Here is a lucid address, which speaks for itself:—

Thimothe O flanigan State of Masekeivitts or elswhare.

The geographical knowledge of the gentleman who penned the following was somewhat extensive:—

To Mr barthol owen Kelly, O’s tate Rhode Island Connecticut.

The following reminds us of the innocent country-girl who said she had an uncle living between the Battery and Central Park:—

Bridget Ware New York, 29 New York City 22 America.

Who can tell of the whereabouts of Miss Foster?

Miss Louise Foster 36th street _some wheres_ Penny Post please deliver.

The following is encouraging to the postman:—

To Mike Donovan or to his cousin Eliza Mac Farrelly. Postman will find him by findin Betsy Brennen who was engaged to Mike before they left Ireland and may be married.

Mr. Ford must be a well-known individual in Maine, else he never received the following letter:—

Mr. Henry Ford who lives in the same place in the State of Maine.

An amusing postscript to a postmaster:—

P. S.—Please give this letter to the man what’s _got a sow_ in my barn, as he wants to get away.

In Byberry Township, near the mill And in a house upon the hill, Lives a young lady in the same Miss ——x she calls her name Below the House on Comly’s lot A son of Vulcan has a shop Now Ross, I know, you’ll oblige the fair Just have the kindness to send it there.

To Leughellyn Weintz Pass. yhunk Rode Below Tom Pitchers bar Room who selles most infurnell bad whiskee—Southwerke,

Philadelphy.

_THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM._

The money-order system, which in England is so popular, has partly failed here. It went into operation on the 1st of November, 1864, under circumstances which promised a decided success. The amount to which the law limited the order-system was not less than one dollar, and not more than thirty dollars. This was to accommodate a certain class of people, and at the same time test the utility of the system for the purpose of hereafter creating a more extensive operation of the principle and also increasing the amount of money sent.

That it is an important step in postal progress its operation in Europe is sufficient proof; but here we started wrong. What should have been a plain, simple transaction between the parties—the paying money and receiving an order—has become perfectly mystified by the ambiguity of the language of the law, as well as the numerous technicalities thrown around it. A poor woman applies to the window for a postal order on New York for ten dollars: she expects the order made payable to herself or to the party to whom she sends it, which on presentation would be immediately paid. It will be observed, upon reading the “General Principles of the Money-Order System” and the “Instructions to Postmasters at Money-Order Offices,” that if this poor woman was requested to read the “laws and regulations” it would be to her “all Greek.” Were the amounts named thousands of dollars instead of pennies, those interested would be of a class whose education and business knowledge would enable them to comprehend it: as it is, we know several instances of poor persons resorting to the old custom of forwarding their money rather than undergo the ordeal of a clerk’s explanation of the law.

_GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM._

I. Money-order offices are divided into two classes. Offices of the first class are depositories, in which those of the second class deposit their surplus money-order funds.

II. Any office in either class may draw upon any other office in the list of money-order offices for a sum, upon one order, from _one dollar_ to _thirty dollars_. But when a larger sum than the latter is required, additional orders to make it up must be obtained.

III. When money-orders exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars in aggregate amount are issued in one day, and to the same person, by one or more offices, upon a second-class office, the postmaster at the office so drawn upon will be permitted to delay the payment of such orders for five days.

IV. The money-orders shall be made out upon printed forms supplied by the post-office department, and no order will be valid or payable unless given upon one of such forms.

V. Any person applying for a money-order will be required to state the particulars upon a form of application which will be furnished to him for that purpose by the postmaster.

VI. If the purchaser of a money-order, from having made an error in stating the name of the office of payment, or for other reasons, desires to have the said money-order changed, the issuing postmaster will take back the first order and issue another in lieu thereof, for which an additional fee shall be charged and exacted as for a new transaction. The order so taken back must be cancelled by the postmaster and entered in his books and returns, in its proper numerical order, as “cancelled.”

VII. Parties procuring money-orders should examine them carefully, to see that they are properly filled up and stamped. This caution will appear the more necessary when it is understood that any defect in this respect will throw difficulties in the way of payment.

VIII. When a money-order is presented for payment at the office upon which it is drawn, the postmaster or authorized clerk will use all proper means to assure himself that the applicant is the person named and intended in the advice; and upon payment of the order care must be taken to obtain the signature of the payee (or of the person authorized by him to receive payment) to the receipt on the face of the order.

IX. When, for any reason, the payee of a money-order does not desire, or is unable, to present the same in person, he is legally empowered, by his written indorsement thereon, to direct payment to be made to any other person; and it is the duty of the postmaster upon whom the order is drawn to pay the amount thereof to the person thus designated; provided the postmaster is satisfied that such indorsement is genuine, and that the second party shall give correct information as to the name and address of the person who originally obtained the order. MORE THAN ONE INDORSEMENT IS PROHIBITED BY LAW, AND WILL RENDER AN ORDER INVALID AND NOT PAYABLE.

X. Any money-order office may repay an order issued by itself if repayment is applied for on the day of such issue, but then only to the person who obtained it, except in special cases. The fee or charge shall not in any case be refunded. If, however, repayment of an order is desired later than one day after its issue, the postmaster must refer the application to the money-order office of the post-office department.

XI. The fees or charges for money-orders will be as follows:—

For an order of $1 or more, but not exceeding $10, 10 cents.

For an order of $10 or more, but not exceeding $20, 15 cents.

For an order of $20 or more, but not exceeding $30, 20 cents.

Fractions of cents must not be introduced into any order.

XII. When a money-order has been lost by either remitter or payee, a duplicate thereof will be issued to the party losing the original, provided he shall furnish a statement, under oath or affirmation, setting forth the loss or destruction thereof, and a certificate from the postmaster by whom it was payable, that the said order had not been paid, and would not thereafter be paid if presented. A second fee will be charged and exacted for the issue of duplicate orders.

“The Instructions to Postmasters at Money-Order Offices” take up too much space for our book: indeed, we omit even a synopsis of them, as we feel perfectly satisfied that our readers would have to study law before they could fully comprehend their mysteries. We call the attention, however, of the public to the following rules to be observed as a cautionary measure:—

“1. To take all means to prevent the loss of a money-order.

“2. Never to send the order in the same letter with the information required on payment thereof.

“3. To be careful, on taking out a money-order, to state correctly the Christian name, as well as the surname, of the person in whose favor it is to be drawn.

“4. To see that the name and address of the person taking out the money-order are correctly made known to the person in whose favor it is to be drawn.

“Neglect of these instructions will risk the loss of the money, besides leading to delay and trouble in obtaining payment.

“Under no circumstances can payment of an order be demanded on the day of its issue.”

If the money is not called for within ninety days after the date of the order, there will be difficulty in obtaining it. The regular form of the order must not be clipped or mutilated. When the payee of an order desires the same to be paid to any other person, he must fill up and sign a form of indorsement, and furnish such second party with the information required to obtain payment of his order, who upon receiving payment must sign his name upon the face of the order. More than one indorsement is prohibited by law, and will render the order invalid and not payable.

It is to be regretted that the system had not been laid down so as to come within the comprehension of all, and so simplified that the explanations from the clerks would not tend to involve it in a greater mystery. It reminds us strongly of a passage in Haddock’s Chancery Practice, vol. 1, p. 125, intended as a definition of law:—

“When a person is bound _to do_ a thing, and he _does_ what may enable him _to do_ the thing, he is supposed in equity _to do_ it with the view of _doing_ what he is bound _to do_.”

_FREEDOM OF THE PRESS._

The freedom of the press, as understood and secured by high constitutional authority, consists in its identification with every principle which is involved in our Declaration of Independence. It dare not aim its shafts at the existence of the government, the Constitution, and the Union. And yet has not the press—a portion of it, we mean—aimed to do so during this rebellion, and that, too, at a time while claiming that government’s protection? A press devoted to the cause of traitors is as much a traitor to the government as are those who are arrayed in arms for its destruction. It ceases to be considered the palladium of liberty, and assumes at once the character of a rebel and a spy, the moment it strikes at the root of the tree whose fruit is freedom!

Our government, unfortunately, at the outbreak of the rebellion did not claim the power to suppress such treasonable publications, but actually left them free to publish what they pleased. The consequence _was_, and _is_, that that portion of the press is as hostile to the administration now as it was in the beginning, _silence giving them consent to commit crime_. Nor was this all: our very postal department assisted in disseminating their papers by allowing them to go and come with impunity. Thus the mails established by the United States Government were and, we are afraid, are still used for its own destruction. Is there any principle of law or of justice to sanction such leniency on our part?

Judge Story, of the Supreme Court, on one occasion, commenting on that clause of the Constitution securing the freedom of the press, says,—

“That this amendment was intended to secure to every citizen an absolute right to speak or write or print whatsoever he might please, without any responsibility, public or private, therefor, is a supposition too wild to be indulged in by any rational man. This would be to allow to every citizen the right to destroy at his pleasure the reputation, the peace, the property, and even the personal safety of every other citizen. A man might, out of mere malice or revenge, accuse another of the most infamous crimes, might excite against him the indignation of all his fellow-citizens by the most atrocious calumnies, might disturb, nay, overturn all his domestic peace, and embitter his parental affections, might inflict the most distressing punishments upon the weak, the timid, and the innocent, might prejudice all a man’s civil and political and private rights, and might stir up sedition, rebellion, and treason, even against the government itself, in the wantonness of his passions or the corruption of his heart. Civil society could not go on under such circumstances. Men would then be obliged to resort to private vengeance to make up the deficiency of the law; and assassinations and savage cruelties would be perpetrated with all the frequency belonging to barbarous and cruel communities. It is plain, then, that the language of this amendment imports no more than that every man has a right to speak, write, and print his opinions upon any subject whatever, without any prior restraint, so always that he does not injure any other person in his rights, person, property, or reputation, _and so always that he does not thereby disturb the public peace or attempt to subvert the government_.”

_POST-OFFICE CURIOSITIES._

There are many curious things daily occurring in the post-office under this head. In “Chambers’s Journal” we find the following:—

“A formal but most essential rule makes letters once posted the property of the postmaster-general until they are delivered as addressed, and they must not be given up to the _writers_ on any pretence whatever. One or two requests of this kind related to us we are not likely soon to forget. On one occasion a commercial traveller called at an office and expressed a fear that he had enclosed two letters in wrong envelopes, the addresses of which he furnished. It appeared from the account which he reluctantly gave, after a refusal to grant his request, that his position and prospects depended upon his getting his letters and correcting the mistakes, inasmuch as they revealed plans which he had adopted to serve two mercantile houses in the same line of business, whose interests clashed at every point. Another case occurred in which a fast young gentleman confessed to carrying on a confidential correspondence with two young ladies at the same time, and that he had, or feared he had, crossed two letters which he had written at the same sitting. Writing of this, we are reminded of a case in which a country postmaster had a letter put into his hand through the office-window, together with the following message, delivered with great emphasis:—‘Here’s a letter; she wants it to go along as fast as it can, ‘cause there’s a feller wants to have her here, and she’s courted by another feller that’s not here, and she wants to know whether he’s going to have her or not.’”

THE FATAL LETTER.—A tradesman’s daughter, who had been for some time engaged to a prosperous young draper in a neighboring town, heard, from one whom she and her parents considered a creditable authority, that he was on the verge of bankruptcy. Not a day was to be lost in breaking the bond by which she and her small fortune were linked to penury. A letter, strong and conclusive in its language, was at once written and posted, when the same informant called upon the young lady’s friends to contradict and explain his former statement, which had arisen out of some misunderstanding. They rushed at once to the post-office; and no words can describe the scene,—the reiterated appeals, the tears, the wringing of hands, the united entreaties of father, mother, and daughter, for the restoration of the fatal letter. But the rule admitted of no exception, and the young lady had to repent at leisure of her inordinate haste.

In this country we are not so strict, as any person posting a letter can have it restored to him by simply signing his name to the fact of its being by him written. We would, however, suggest to the department the propriety of establishing the English system; for we feel confident that the moment rogues turn their attention to the post-office for the purpose of plunder, taking advantage of this loose way of doing business will be the consequence. Another thing: it will make men more careful, and thus save the department an immense deal of trouble.

_NEWSPAPERS._

Although we have strict laws upon the subject of _trifling_ with newspapers, our postmasters do not enforce them to the extent they should. The following is a provision of the English law which does not remain, as with us, a “dead letter:”—

“Newspapers are always to be considered of equal importance with letters; and postmasters are forbidden to open them for any other purpose than that required by law, and are also forbidden to lend them to any person.”

(From the “English Postal.”)

“BY WEIGHT.—If the weight be exceeded to the smallest extent, even though the balance be merely turned, the book or printed paper becomes liable to a higher postage. To provide, therefore, for errors in scales, &c., it is well to allow a little margin, or to pay the postage of the next greater weight. It should be remembered that a newspaper when wet weighs more than when dry. Forgetfulness on this point sometimes causes groundless complaints about charges for newspapers,—the complainant erroneously supposing, on weighing the newspaper on its arrival, and when it had had time to dry, that he had been overcharged. The foregoing observations apply also to books, &c. sent abroad.

“INFORMATION.—No information can be given respecting letters which pass through a post-office, except to the persons to whom they are addressed; and in no other way is official information of a private character allowed to be made public.

“RETURN LETTERS.—Postmasters are not allowed to return any letter to the writer, or sender, or to any one else, or to delay forwarding it to its destination according to the address, even though a request to such effect be written thereon; as every letter must be delivered to the person to whom it is directed (and to him alone) at the address it bears.