The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-05-30

men and true pass over the documents to
him from headquarters, every one Of whom
embraces such opportunity to study the
Post-mark as the tallowy fare Of the light
affords him.
Mr.. Battles again sings up the Of
fetal at the desk. Everybody looks around
to find Mr.. Battles. He is sought after
with as anxious care as the hundredth
sheep that went astray. His acquaintance
explore every corner and Granny, look one
side aud another of the stoye-pipe, and
finally respond-aNot herer Then, "Mr.
Cannikin !" He comes forward as far as
the jam permits him, and is put in pos
session of his mail, much after the style
of Mr.. Atkins Then, "Miss Fairmade r.
At which some of the young men ex-
change jokes, in low voice, while little
boy--who has been on the lockout for his
pretty sster near the counter-reaches out
his tawny hand and makes an effective
grab for it and carries it off.
So on, through the list To those who
60 without a word to their own boxes and
bring away their mails with a tap on
the glass, this picture may seem an exag-
geration; but back in the country, and
altogether beyond town-reach, it will be
recognized at glance for the truth.
Again and again have we heard our name
called out in the ears Of the town magnates
and received what mail matter was right
fully ours through the hands of we could
not tell how many accommodating men
and scys, mixed together in oficious con-
fusion.
On mooted points of law--especially
constitutional law--the country Postmas-
ter is strong beyond any ones estimate
He has the mother-wit to keep handful Of
stray old Congressional Reports, bound and
lettered, on the dusty shelf at his back
as well as a more solid-looking copy of the
Statutes, in imposing calf; and, with his
legal stock in trade, he sets the town at
defiance. OF course he is not to be con-
tradicted on matters pertaining to the ma
ton and its welfare, for, sustaining such
close relations with the Government, how
Is it to be supposed that any other man
can know some things as well as he I?
Even Goldsmith's school master is no
match for him, in the line Of "arguing
still. Not even a member Of the Presi-
dents Cabinet can give an opinion with
more pragmatic precision, or deliver him
self with greater assurance of the inten-
tons OF the august Washington author
tiles. He stands for the village Rajah-
the Great Mogul-at the head of the
political wigwam of the place. National
politics take their local coloring by being
passed through the rather opaque medium
of bis official commentary. He is sketch
ed, in the party's mind, as the one man
who keeps the keys, the seals, and the
secrets. If a single man contemplates so
reckless step as party backsliding, or
detection, he of all the rest is close behind
him to make him quake in whatever
clothes he happens to have on
Thus does the Postmaster practically
become the centre Of town patronage and
town consequence. All look up to him,
as they do to the village flagstaff, from
which the "stars and stripes" are in the
habit of waving. II any grumble at this
or at that, it makes very little difference !:
they are obliged to keep on even terms
with him, and pocket all their dissatisfac.
tions in silence. The women either like
or dislike him, land that very decidedly.
The younger portion, however, are careful
to drop no syllable that can reach the
Postmaster's family, and so make Infinite
trouble for themselves.
When they trip across into the Office,
they expect a joke from him, rather slyly,
about their distant correspondents which
shows with what studious thoroughness
he informs himself, and what memory
passing all wonder, he has. Indeed. it
affords him intense satisfaction to poke
fun at the girls about their beaux, and to
tease them with intent to draw forth still
more Of their little love-secrets.
Thus, no doubt, would he like to pass
long afternoons, alternately running over
odd papers which tardy subscribers have
failed to call for, and gossipping with the
girls concerning the triaing loye-secrets
that form the staple of their letters from
places not always very far of.
1t is, therefore, an objectionable mistake
to take city postmasters-the New York,
and Philadelphia, and Boston magnates-
as the fair representatives of these officials
throughout the land. If you would make
study of the Postmaster, you must con-
template those who compose, under gov
eminent favor, the rank-and-ile Of the of.
fice-holding army. In the rural districts
the real Postmaster excels. There he
stands forth, statuesque in his glory,--co-
lumnar and individual in the social land
scape. The whole town leans on him.
reyolves around him. He attracts all To-
cal and personal interests, like iron filings,
to his official loadstone,
A school teacher in Dewitt county, ILL.,,