, 1876-04-08
NO Is,

lnSes, fnlse teeth, a china angel and bottle
imp, gate hinges and damaged hat razors,
gas fixtures, ivory rulers, bottles of ointment,
scrabbing brushcs, tack hammers, cork
screws rosaries, spectacies,--
LET Us STOP AND TAKE BREATH
and a thousand odds and ends besides--s
nlohagesie and museum all in one. Mar,ros
the articles have enumerated, did mol
but find them on the printed catahsgue gs
sixty six pages, prepared for the sale, which
was advertised to take place on the nth Of
January, and thereafter, until all were dis
p'sed Of 1t took place, was well attended,
and the eight thousand and over separate
lots sold with great rapidity, and much fun,
GGriag several successive days and evenings.
The ratest and most valuable Of the articles
are however, not disposcd Of They are
placed in glass cases covering the sides of
the room Of the chief Of the dead letter
division, and form very interesting collec-
ton. Here is
vERIrABLE CENTENNIAL CURIOSITY
in the shape of a land grant in North Caro-
lima, issued by George the Third. To one
open letter is attached an antique-looking
and evidently valuable brooch Of yellow
stones In quaint setting. The writing 10
ruCe, uniformed hand reads thus "This pin
took wi hout leave, when was leaving
your fathers house, and now return it
| am very sorry -REPESrANr.
There are several valuable rings, one Of
which was found loose in the mailbag,
having worn its way through the envelope.
SAW square cavity cut through the pages
ofa thick book, and filed with beautifully
carved ivory figures and letters, and a verv
handsome seal skin mua hanging in one OF
the cases, with a great many other really
beautiful and curious things, whose loss prob.
ably somebody somewhere in mourning.
TWAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH
to he accompanied through the large central
hall where the asserting is performed, bya
lady who had been employed for aperiod of
five years in the office, and thus took a more
lesurly survey than / could have done
under the guidance Of the very geDtlemanly
and obliging superintendent, who could not
he expected to give very much time to any
single visitor. The letters are opened by
clerks, who ait around long table in the
center OF the spncions room. They are not
even glanced aver by the person who opens
them, but laid on the right or left, accord
ing as they may or may not contain mouey
or other enclosures.
THEY AXE EXAMINED FURTHER,
and rcdirccted by the lady clerks in the open
gallery, which runs around the entire room.
The System by which all this is accomplished
IS very complete.
In these days of multitudinous Counter
presentments," of course, great numbers OF
photographs are sent by mail, and, like other
matter, they often bring up unclaimed at
this office. One clerk has special charge of
this branch Of the service. She records the
address Of ali letters containing family or
portrait photographs, and by means Of num-
bers and other classiications they can at
once be found, if inquired after, as they
often are. saw large imperial pi ctures of
beautiful lady and child addressed to
some gentleman in Germany, probably the
husband and father, which had been kept
back on account OF overweight There was
no clue what ever to the sonder-not even
the name of the artist, to whom, sometimes
in such cases, notice 10 giYed.
TWAS TOLD THAT LETTERS
are received inquiring after photographs sent
q year or two before, the person in the mean
time died. aud the picture thus become pre-.
cious. Such applications are often success.
full for every care is taken 10 preserve aud
forward, when possible,
There arc some addressed which can lead
only to this Office. AAer Christmas time
come letters to Santa Claus at the North
Pole, or Kriss Kringe IN Lapland, and I
was shown one envelope addressed in u
childish hand. with this couplet flom Glenn
ent Moors famous Christmas ballad
"To the man with the little round belly,
Tha.shakss when be laughs, like bowlful ofjelly."
These may be sent by some fun-loving
person, for joke upon Uncle Sam, but they
bear even evidence ofhAving been written by
genuine children, not yet so oversis" Ias to
hold themselves superior to the pretty lllu-
sions of the fury time OF life.
| ADELE G.