Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-24
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD LETTERS.

CHriOus Ti(Stgs Sent Hy kUO- What
careless Persons Inrot't"t"rity Contrib
ate To II Itctc SAM"
On the 18th pToximo an auction sale OF
articles which have accumulated in the dead
letter office ior the ''mausoleum OF buried
affections as IL has been styled by POST
master General Jewell,) since 1869, will take
place In this city. On looking over the long
list of articles 10 be sold one cannot but De
surprised al their number and character,
especially when il is remembered that OF all
the articles reaching the dead letter deposit
tory since the year named, the present list
embraces but small proportion OF all
which have been received. In all cases
where letters aud packages contain valua-
bles they are returned to the writer or for
wander IL there is any clew to his address.
and when. none can be found they are OF
money alone which yearly finds its way into
this Office ranges from $4,000 to 500, 600.
During the last fiscal year the amount re-
ceived was sII ,l66.t6, of which s5i SSH was
returned to the forwarderS, and S2.629.49 re-
manned in the hands OF the department June
A LARGE COLLECTION.
Some idea OF the articles accumulated
may be gained when IL is stated that the list
embraces 22l9 miscellaneous articles tin-
Guiding wearing apparel of all kinds, l.3l5
pieces of jewelry, some very valuable: 1,5S5
books, treating on almost every subject; 2t9
chromos. 2l7 pieces OF sheet music, a1d I02
StereOScOplc views. Among the
MECHANICAL IMPLEMENTS
are organ valves, sewing machine tools and
needles, button hole cutters, tuning forks,
saws, files, steel wire, avis, scissors, spirit
shoemakers' and Olacksmiths tools, surgical
instruments, &c.
MEDICINES, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, &C.
Quacks ard many regular medical rracti
toners fiEd the post office a very convenient
medium through which TO transmit mei-
cines, surgical instruments, &c, 10 their pa
TENTS This list, which is not very large, IN
cludes porous plas;ers, tape-worm medicine,
ear tunnels, asthmatic fumig gators, corn plas
tiers, salves OF different kinds, one bottle or
sympathetic Blush" (for the ladies', of
course), bronchial trochees, pile remedies, In
dian bone ointment, vaccine matter, nasal
injectOrs, syringes, and almost every kind OF
instrument used IL surgery.
WEARING APPAREL
is very long. including as it does thousands
OF articles, from pair OF stockings up 10
ladys dress. a few are noted as follows:
Neckties, scarfs, wristlets, kid gloves OF
every description, pocket handkerchief,
ting, stockings, skirts, chemises, garters of
all kinds and colors for big legs, little legs,
medium legs, and blacklegs, pieces of silk.
babes mitts, one hemstitched "Star Span
Gled Banner handkerchiefs, baby shirts
baby yokes, suspenders, shirt bosoms, court
plaster, hair friZettes, night caps, drawers,
nubias, undersleeves, cOrsets, la lies under
shirts, and 1--WE blush to record it, breast
pads and petticoatS.
THE MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES
embrace harmOnIcous, pocket compaSses,
needlewoTk, sun glasses, book marks, keys,
lead pencils, skeinS of silk, rubber nipples,
needle cases, papers OF pins, raZors, spec
tacles, hair switches and chignons, BABY
combs, fiddle strings aud bridges, tooth
brushes, piucUshiOus, ear-laps, cigarette
paper, curling combs, reticules, baby shoes,
electro combs, tape measures, foreign stamps.
shoe buckles, fishing tackle, scapulars AMI
Agnes Deis, butterflies, fans, hyperion curl.
eIs. crimpers, scent bags. fine tooth combs,
(fOr head rangers,) watch cases, rosaries,
bullet molds, cloth charms, bird wings, nail
cleaners, glass eyes. netting for horses ears,
Grant and ColfaX" badges, magic fingers
magic bottles, head dresses. gold foil, ISM
glass, pocket books, birds and animals
eyes. weasel, wolf and coon skins, napkins.
dolls clothing. gun and pop gun ammu-
milton, artificial teeth, tooth picks, buckles,
| sardines. boxes of shells. pipes. butcher
knives. hame frames, boxes OF backing,
| trusses, box of Jones Pumpkin Meal" box
| OF arrow heads, wax candles. glue pots. shot
pouches, corn huskers. night caps. POKER
"chips. face powders C. ucifiXe3. baby rattles.
chewing gum, gas burners. curl of hair.
undoubtedly love token from some lady
| fair, y china angel. pie crust cutter, hats,
cCrkscrews, whiplaShes, dog collars. rattle
| snakes rattles. pepper boxes, scythe stones,
what isifs," | squirrel tail, wings OF a
bat, iron dishclotbs. &c.
OBSCENE LITERATURE, ETC.
Besides the above enumerated articles and
thousands of others, We have no space 10
mention, large amount of immoral mat
are yearly received. This matter is probably
turned over to special agent Comstock, to in
crease the stock he always has on hand. for
| the purpose of exhibiting to select Congress
sioIal and clerical circles, in order to show
The extent and vileness of the traffic carried
on in this line. 1t is almost unnecessary TO
say that more of this matter will be exposed
for sale.