The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-11-14
From Nelson's Northern (Keesevize, NJ ~ Gazette.
A Row About a Post-Officc Stamp.


The following incident which French ex-
change brings US having taken place in Paris.
is so good and contains such capital moral
a5 hs s sassSaa af ps88Rs e8 prone sR finding
pleasure -
The widow Bichard is an old lady badly ad-
dieted to making bulls, and is of piece with
the good woman who poured out the coffee, to
feast upon the grounds. 1t was a blunder
something of this character she has Just COM
the police office.
The cause of the hubbub had occurred in
one Of the city post.otfices of Paris, where
clerk, whose duty it was to attend to prepaid
letters, was suddenly accosted by woman
who rushed in in great trepidation. This wo-
man was the widow Bichard.
"Sir,' she exclaimed, addressing the clerk
in voice tremulous with anger how does it
happen, should like to know, that when, one
has prepaid the postage on a letter, the person
to whom it is sent is made to pay for itagaiu?
. How it happens, madam 2-cried the clerk,
-'why it don't happen at ALL
'Well, l say it does happen, and what's more
that it happened to day-lherep
1uu leu JOu tudIit1 uH-
possible that it should be So &
'But it is person Of my acquaintance to
whom wrote yesterday, and whose letter |
prepaid, who says she had to pay for it too.-
She was furious about it, and / don't wonder
she was; for wrote to her concerning my
own affairs, and she had to pay the postage
It's down right robbery, sayp
And thereupon the widow kicked up sucha
rumpus that it was found necessary to call in
policeman and take her before a magistrate.
Instead of pacifylng madam Bichard, this pro.
ceeding nearly threw her into the last degree
Of evaporation. Although the o6icer,reques7
ted her to assume proper line of conduct, the
widow persisted in her fury and stamped and
screamed most uproriously.
'To be told too, that don't know what
done with itp she cried. ~
Done with what 2 enquired the magistrate.
'rhe receipt answered the widow; the re.
ceipt which proves that prepaid the letter
So saying, she fumbled in all her pockets.
There she exclaimed suddenly, I've got itp
Here it ISL
And she exhibited triumphantly to the ma
gistrate--what can you imagine it @asg-a
postage stamp! The poor lady had taken it
as Il receipt for the money she had paid to the
clerk, and had treasured it sacredly instead Of
pasting it upon the letter.
The blunder was duly explained TO her amid
roars Of laughter from the spectators. She g
promptly acknowledged her fault, and regret
ting she had given away to her anger. begged
the coust to deal lenently with her. She pied
ged her ignorance as the cause of the storm
ing and abuse Of which shestood convicted.
The Court took the sculprit's general good
conduct into consideration, as well as her con-
triton. and fined her l6 francs only.
However ridiculous this piece of French
Parting, onisr, may seem to the reader, he-can
rest assured that scarcely week passes at q
Postoffice in this country without some absur-
dity like it occurring, for which the poor Post
Master is round!y berated, without enjoying
the satisfaction Of seeing the blunderers pun
ished for their perverseness.
Death has consigned manyNa man 70 fame,
whom longer life would have consigned to in.
! fanny.