The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-12-27
A DRUMMER BOYS LUCK.

DRUMMER BOYS LUCK.
Samuel Bryaa's Remax1kable Prone.
ti0w--.His Trials On the RSaA-
ter-He Leaves ns His Imperial Ua-
jesty's Special CommisSi0nef.
Washington Correspondence N. Y. SUM-
There are many of your readers
who are ignorant of the fact that
the Japanese Government has es-
tablished a postal service, and that
it has entered into a regular postal
treaty with the United States. A
still larger number do not yet know
what has given the ancient empire
such a glorious start in the race of
progress. The story is as pleasant
as it is instructive, and here it is:
With one of the Ohio regiments
that passed through Washington
at the beginning of the war came
q drummer boy-Samuel Bryan
about twenty years old He en-
listed at Cadiz, the home of John
A. Bingham, but after an expert
ence of few months he secured q
discharge, obtained employment in
one of the departments, and by
perseverance and patience soon
worked himself into clerkship in
the Sixth Auditors Office at a sal
ary of 81, 900 a year, and was placed
| in charge of what is known as the
British mail desk. In this position
he became thoroughly acquainted
with our foreign mail system, and
obtained also an excellent general
! knowledge of postal business in all
its various departments.
HAPPY THOUGHT.
One day, after reading an account
of the japanese Embassy's recep-
ton at San Francisco, the thought
arose in his mind that while Japan
bad attempted to introduce our In
ternal Revenue and Agricultural
Bureau systems, she had as yet
made no effort to establish a Postal
Department. He argued that the
government which could so clearly
see the advantages of system in the
| workings of the Agricultural and
Revenue Departments could not be
blind to the Importance of q plan
by which general intelligence could
be most rapidly and most cheaply
distributed among it's people. Filled
| with the thought that he might be
the means of conferring lasting
benefit upon Japan, while he him
self might occupy a prominent
position in the line of promotion to
Immortality, he lost no time in sur
verying the field and preparing for
action.
His first step was to introduce
himself to Hon. Jacob A. Amber,
member of Congress from the Sew
enteenth Ohio district.
Il should have gone to Mr.. Bing
ham, said he to the Congressman,
but he is so lazy that I know he
would do nothing but make the
promises
From Mr.. Amber young Bryan
learned that the Japanese Govern
ment had no postal service, but
that, according to Minister Mori,
attempts were being made to estab'
ish one. He next called upon
Minister Mori, but received no en-
couragement.
| When Minister De Long arrived
with the Japanese Embassy Bryan
obtained an introduction to him
from llis good friend MIR. Amber.
and after fully explaining his plans
received from Mr. De Long assur
RANGES of his earnest co operation
The chief men of the Embassy
were delighted with the explanations
| of the young enthusiast, and were
easily won to promise their aid il
the prosecution of his enterprise
They had no authority to enter inte
any agreement with him, but urged
him to go at once to Japan and trea
directly with the Imperial Govern
ment
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES.
ssThis was fattering,' said Brya1
to me the other day-for you mus
know he was in Washington
ssbut how could I follow their ad
vice! Without money, withou
moneyed friends to assist me, wha
, could l dot Mr.. De Long came I,
my aid with a happy suggestion
i. It was simply to put myself in com
, munication with the Pacific Mai
J Steamship Company, lay my plan
, before them, secure an appointment
, as agent for the line, and while il
Japan press my scheme upon tn
, Government"
Backed up by Minister De Long
, who. on his departure for Europe
left him letter of introductio
t and recommendation to be handle
: to the President of the Pacific Ma
: Steamship Company, Bryan wa
appointed purser in the branc
q lines plying in Eastern waters, an
y received a free ticket from Sa
u Francisco to Yokohama.
Il Leaving 5000 with his wife b
: started for New York with S75 i
!; his pocket. From G.. H. Hunting
I tor, Vice President of the Centr,
Pacific, to whom. he bore lette,
e from the Postmaster General. A
: Council Bluffs he purchased an arm
|, officers ticket over the Union p,
q cifc, for which he paid $38, so, an
q had just 50, SO in currency left
: On the train he met the ma