The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-11

3ne romance ma AesDty OF the Peat Once.
TIN YEARS AMONG THE MAIL BAas; or Notes from
the Diary of Special Agent OF the Post Office
Department, by j. H0brOok. C0wperthwait Il
Co., Philadelphia; J. G. Derby, New York
The pamphlet Of MIR. Pliny Miles, which we
noticed week or two ago, gave full insight into
the general administration Of our Post Office sys-
tenn, but there is portion OF working, OF which
the writer could know but little, and which forms
not the least interesting and instructive chapter in its
history. We allude to that apparent ooseness Of
pervsion and general negligence on the part Of some
of the agents Of the Department which lead to the fire.
quent abstraction Of money from letters, and some
times even the loss Of the mail bags themselves This
iacune has Just been edup by gentlemsa thorough
~ initiated in ell the mysteries of these transactions,
and in every way competent to throw light upon
them-Mr. Holbrook, for many years special agent
of the Post Office Department. He has given us .
very entertaining and valuable book. His object, as
may be supposed from his position is not In any way
to cast discredit the department He was induced,
he states, to undertake the task "by the hope and
belief that while it afforded interesting matter for
the general reader, it might prove public benefit,
by increasing the safety Of the United States mails
and fortifying those officially connected with the
Post Office and mail service against the peculiar
temptations incident to their position, thus preserv
ing to society some, at least, who, without such
warnings as the following sketches contain, might
make shipwreck Of their principles, and meet with
q felon's DOOM
without acquescing altogether in the probability
of the hopes thus expressed, we are bound to con-
cede to Mr.. Holhrooks narrative OF his Post Office
experiences the merit Of being an exceedingly
interesting and suggestive book. Taken in con-
junction with the pamphlet of Mr. Miles, this pub
hcation is calculated to be of the greatest use ut
the present moment Mr.. Hobrook tells his story
plainly, in good taste, and without any affectation
Of literary pretension. The volume is embellished
with some very well drawn and neatly executed
steel and wood engravings. Among others are por
traits steel Of all the Post Master Generals from
Osgood to Campbell. The following extracts will
give an idea of the general character Of the book
Some years ago the Post Office of prominent city In
Western New York became involved in series Of mall
depredations and At length 1t apparent tina.
one OF the three clerks who had slept the Office must
be guilty OF committing them but the ssening Of the
charge upon the delinquent thing yet to be accom-
pished BY various processes the range Of suspicion
was narrowed down till It rested upon OF the clerks
and 1t only remained TO get the legal proof Of his guilt
Pack 3es were missed that known to have reach
ID the Office BY tho midnight nails The clerks took
sss IN
Tor the time attended to 1t sleeping cot in the Post
once the 0ther two occupying small apart
ment at some little distance from the main Office but
connected whit.
1t had also been ascertnined that the packages were
distracted from particular mail pouch which arrived
with many others about midnight, and remained unas-
sorted TIL morning. On certain OCCASION whom the
every hing N hat pouch was taken upon the cars from
the West with the view Of compar ing the list Of its
tents With the post bills which should be found tho
nles OF the Office the following morning, similar bills
having heretofore dis ppeared with the pAskages
As had before this had good reason to know that
AID jurors In that section Of the country
properly required pretty conclusive evidence for convi:
ton In such cases determined in addition to other
redents to take the post Of private Waterman nde the
Office, for night at least that might obtain by
lar demonstration sufficient proof against the guilty one
to satisfy the mostincredulous court and jury.
One OF the unsuspectei clerks sent away that
night and the other In whom had the utmost conf
dence, was apprised Of my intentions. By him l let
INTO the once through private door heors the object
selecting a suitable place where could without
being seem behind an door leading from the post
hrough the crack Of the door, fair view Of the ore
said cot and Its occupant.
T. BE- honcred with my scfutiuy during the live.long
night and he wrapt the drspery of his couch about
him, " Icould not avoid making momentary compar
and the wesrisome hours upon which was entering
Some must watch, while some must sleep
Thus the world away.
sitting in 1he public stockS-watcbng with the body
ing cornered BY > when you have an immediate en-
gagement elsewbere--w atng your turn in DENTIST
Office Ill these somewhat trying to tho nerves, but
for real test Of their power of endurance commend
to stand behind door, between the hours of 10 p NJ
and daylight; the Thermometer ranging fr I'm 80 up
Imminent risk Of being discovered your hiding place
and forced to retrea. gnou inipusly.
This l. faint picture Of thAtuation Of the author
the night in question. Zeal for the public good and
cracker or two alone sustained me through the tedious
The proverb says that ga great deal can be seen
through small hole" Ny sphere Of vision, however,
was rather limited embracing only portion Of the
adjoining room family lighted By hanging cot
tiers Of letter boxes forming BAGS ground. Entirely in
keeping with this scene Of "s,iii e," the mono
with tickling the peaceable citizens
and otherwise harrassng them during the day. must
by insects Of more steady habits However, they might
have been engaged in the seworthy occupation Of
soothing one another to rest BY their drowsy hum for
myself began to feel its soporihc influence and to bless
1.-THE who first invented sleep" but anathematize
(inwAr5ly) him ~ho preventing 1t.
was reused from this sleepy condition by slight irri
ta'os in the schnederain menbrane in other words,
began 10 feel deeire to sneeze Now sneezng Il an
either go the whole hog" entirely refrain. Aoy at
tempt to reduce the force Of the explosion Ia unava
ing A. was the Inhmans effort to fire aizy'' when he
must be nped in the bad II wished TO preserve
my secresy inviolste.
Accordingly called to mind (as far as was a5le)
and pracassd all the expedient. Of which had
heard besides others entirely original for aayng this
Utilization rubbed the bridge OF my nose; would have
slapped myself the forehead, had not feared the
dy would prove than the disease in respect of
noise instituted experiments In counter Irritation
by pulling my hair pinchng my and thus dverting
attention from the iebeous organ; and finally sue
ceeded In subduing his refractory member. The uneai
felt lest after all should be compelled 10 wake
the echoes OF the building, well rs other more
tangible creations, was Ia some degree dispeled by
several hearty which proceeded from the sleeper
like the guns which announce the arrival Of vessel
in port gave evidence that h had arrived In the land Of
cI cams.
Under the cover OF this fea de joie, despatched
cracker mot fire cracker which happened 70 have in
my pocket my inner began TO feel the effects Of
my unwoDted portion and consequent WEAKNESS.
At about midnight sncdsn peal of the bell pulled by
the mail carrier at back door aroused The sleeper, who
started up, the door and received the mail and
after little DELAY, returned 20 his bed not however TO
sleep as quietly as before, he often rolled from
side to side, occasionally utterng groan.
Having nothing better 10 do, the
Of these phenomena. They might be owing. hrst, to
heat second, To disordered stomach third, IN
uneasy conscience.
A the first 81 these supposed u esned I'm
bla hat In In a