Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-02-02
Correspondence of the "Boston
Transcript"
New. York, 1860.

1t may interest your readers to know
that they will soon have the opportunity OF
seeing the far.famed New Lctter-Envelope,
in consequence of the decision of the POST
Office Department to distribute it tgenerally
among the Postmasters of the country, not
only in its present form, but also with. q
one cent stamp attached. I have stated
that it may interest your readers to learn
the fact, for it is to be presumed that they
share the curiosity ofthe rest of the world
in regard to this greatest Of little inven
tions.
It would be uncharitable in your cores
pondent to disenchant their minds by a
particular description of this little device,
which is so soon to be in their hands ii pro.
pyia persona. Suffice it to say, that it
substantially consists in the Incorporation
of three parallel lines, with the common
letter-envelope, to guide the pen in its
superscription but these are truly remark
able lines, as you may judge by the follow
ing amusing description Of an sdveEture
with them by one aniniliated in the myste-
rics of the new invention. A correspon-
dent of Ncw-York paper thus gravely
relates bis first experience with the new
envelope. After spelling three or four
envelopes in the attempt to superscribe
one in satisfactory manner, he goes on
to say y:,-.-......,r.,.l ...
cat this juncturo my eye was attracted
to package of stamped envelopes which
had just been procured, and which lay in
tempting proximity 10 my writing-desk.
Abstracting specimen from this bunch of
really superior white envelopes, l prepared
to essay my nervc-twitchpd hand upon it.
Before doing SO, however, the expedient
occurred to me which is resorted to by the
ladies for securing those elegant superscrip-
tions for which their correspondence is
remarkable the insertion of heavy, ruled
black lines behind the face of the envelope.
No sooner had this idea presented itself to
my mind than, as if by magic, three paral-
lei lines sprang across the envelope under
the pressure of my hand The involuntary
start which now communicated itself to my
nerves caused me to drop my pen, and in
the act one more envelope was we'll nigh
being numbered among the things useless.
Supposing that l had been surprised by a
mere fancy, however, picked up my pen,
and again attempted the superscription.
But no sooner did l place my hand ON the
envelope than the same phenomena was
again visible. There were the three lines
as distinctly drawn across the white surface
of the paper as Il Is possible to imagine
My first thought was that some one had
Intended to use the envelope before, but
emitting to do so, had restored it to the
package, leaving the black lines still in
their place SO, thru'ting my fingers into
it, felt about Tor the forgotten piece Of
paper, but failed to discover it. Another
attempt at addressing the envelope resulted
in apparition number three of the three
mysterious lines. Not a little neltled-nay
startled, jumped upon my feet, tore the
envelope in pieces, and threw it upon the
floor, whcn, it is hardly necessary to add
the mystery was solved"
The success of the new envelope strik.
ingly illustrates the influence of position
in lines used as a autographed guide-as
well as in other matters-upon our estimate
of its value, Had these lines been perma
---ay ~-s.~'.a ~p~u .i.e oAtoiio, su, fuoe
of the envelope, they would have answered
every useful purpose just as well, but they
would have insured its unceremonious re.
lection by people of taste and cultivation ;
but combined as they are, they have not
only secured for it u success unparalleled
in the history of inventions, but promise to
contribute essentially to the solution of the
great problem of cheap postage.
Perhaps you may be curious to know
what the leading journals of this city can
find to say about SO small matter.
A Sunday paper thus POLITICALLY refers
to this attractive novelty; ....
"At length the Few stamped envelope,
which, during the last few months, has
attained such wide celebrity, has made
its appearance in New York. 1t is not a
myth nor a mystery, as we were for a
time led to suppose, from the delay attend
ing its introduction, and the imperfect
descriptions given of it in the newspapers.
We have before us the veritable article,
with its dissolving lines, and the beautiful
Government stamp attached"
A prominent daily refers to it in the
following strain;
"There are, perhaps, but few intelligent
| persons IN this Country. or. indeed in anv