Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-22
A Smart Boy-The beauties Of the Frank
inR Privilege.

Some days ego young lad, sixteen
years Of age, presented himself to one of
the most extensive firms in Philadelphia.
He entered the counting room, cap in hand,
and modestly requested to speak with one
of the principals. The request was granted,
and the lad received the kindest possible
attention. His request was, not for employ
nent, as was expected, but that as he ex-
pected large correspondence for a few
days, he might order letters to be directed
to the postofice box Of the firm in question
This was little unusual, but the boys
manner was so prepossessing that the re-
quest was complied with, and the lad with
a polite bow, went his way. Two or three
days afterward, came to the care of the
firms box full vheelbsrrow load Of ex-
pensive books, suitable for even a states
mans library, franked free Of postage by
"B-, II r. ddressed--Smitb, care
box, P. o. Next day came three or four
other packages, franked by other members
of Congress, and every day afterward fur
ther lot, until something less than a cart
load of valuable matter, proourable only
through members of Congress, had reached
the box Of the obliging firm, addressed to
Master Smith. Among the lot was single
volume worth S25, and only to be found in
were just that class of volumes which cost
the Government the most money in their
publication and are procurable with diff
Guilty, even by editors.
The first time the porter Of Messrs -
went to the postoflce, after the above named
permission had been given, he returned to
the counting room with letters, as usual, in
his hand.
as that all ~ he was asked
"No sir, not by good dale. Mister
Ireland says | must come back wild the
cart to draw down a lot o bundhles."
"Bundles What bundles ?'
"a whole lot o bundhles lyin' there in the
postofice.'
"For us?n
"Yes sir, Misther Booth sez they belongs
to box number, an sure that's our box,
any how"
The gentleman was so puzzled that he
concluded there was some mistake. He
went personally to the postofice, the Mi
lesian porter, with a big wheelbarrow, fol-
lowing at q respectable distance in the
rear. When he got to the postoffice he was
invited inside, where heap of mail mat
ter was shown him big enough to stock
village library.
The secret was now out. The boy Smith
had written TO- Congressman for the books.
The Congressman, not knowing Mr.. Smith
| from q side of sole leather or the founder
of the Smithsonian Institute, and vastly
fattered by the style of letters he had writ
ten them, had sent on all the books he
asked for In the opinion Of the postmaster
the Capitol itself would have been sent in the
same way if frank could be found big
enough to cover it.
The result was that the firm at once can
celed the permission to young Smith to use
their box. The boy managed, however, to
get wheelbarrow full of the best books.
The remainder were last night still lying iu
the pUstoffice. Master Smith having per-
feet right to them, they await his disposal.
The case goes to show the manner in
which sugar-coated letter from any source
supposed to cover the proper style of votes
can influence the franking privilege. The
postage on the batch of books just come
into the possession of Master Smith would
be very large sum. Many of the books
are beyond the size admissible for mail
transportation from private publishers.
Some sixteen or twenty are about the size
of Harper's Family Bible, and as full Of
pictures as "Mother Goose's Melodies
Master Smith has proved himself smart
boy. What has been done by Master Smith,
however, has been done by hundreds OF
others having as little claim upon Congress
for its publications, or upon the postoffice
department sor dead-head privileges.