Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-27
Alefan0rla @axttte
THURSDAY EVENING, deer. q.
Postal Antiquities.

- ~ Postal Antiquities.
For the earliest dawoing of the postal system
we must travel back far into the past. and We
must look beyond our own island. ln every
encyolopedia we may read how the word post IS
supposed to have originated from the Latin
postum, placed or fixed; aud how posts or Sta
tions were placed at Intervals along the roads OF
the Roman empire, at least as early as 10 tho
reign of Augustus; at these stations courlers
held themselves in readiness to receive d.
patches. We must 90 back sliIl further, and
we shall discover very curious arrangements Tor
the CONVEYANCE of written and of spoken mes
sages. That ancient people the Chinese, bc'
forehand in everything, are said to have lnstl'
tuted stations for the reception OF those bring
ing news. At these stations beds or couches
were prepared, covered with silk and surround-
ed bv rich curtains ''6t even for q kleg,
should the herald of news be royal parsonage.
Then, again, the aucicnts were not %lthout
| their contriVances for the secret conveyance OF
intelligence.
Herodotus speaks of the messages written on
| the shaven heads of slaves whose journeys were
delayed until the hair had grown sufficiently to
hide the mysterious words which were thus Sc.
curely vailed uutil the friend to whom they
| were addressed unyai!cd them with his sword
razor Josephus tells US of men disguised az
animals, and bearing about them, hidden under
the leopard's skin, or the lions name, some dread
secret written by friend or master. Then,
again, be speaks of letters nclosed 10 sarcophagl
With the embalmed dead; and OF messages
fearful or perchance friendly 10 import being
eperaven on bullets, which anxlously waited
| for were slupg into beseged cities. And wo
read of the more Ingenious contrlVanco OF mys-
tic writing, such as that employed by julius
| Caesar, who arranged cipher most etiecua
for secrecy. The ancient custom OF stations,
or posts, bore but slight resemblance to tho
postal arrangements OF our own times, soelng
| that they were available only for state pur-
poses, and were not intended to serve tor prl-
yate correspondence; yet, t,loaSmuch as they were
gpestiye to high and low, we may regard
| them as the forerunners ct the extensive postal
| institutions from which now we all beneht.
England waited long for her regular postal
system which is of comparatively recent date
although as early as tbs thirteenth century tho
necessity of it plainly appeared from the various
Inventions resorted to by rich and poor. Fer
iexample. persons of wealth and Importance
would keep one household official called nun
cius, or messenger, whose solo duty was INC
IconYeyance of letters; while their poorer nelgh.
lbors would intrust written commuolcatlo0s ~
Travelling peddlers, sea CAPTAINS aud others
who made stated and periodical Journeys; mer
chants would occasionally speculate oy under
taking publicly to send to their respective des
tinations all letters brought to them, provided
1.-The expenses of transmission were paid before
hand: and many of the nobility Instituted sta
tions or posts for their own families, or ior
districts in which they were especially inter-
ested ed.-EngEsh Paper.
! SpENcER's BEAUTIFUL WIFE.-Amcng the
Sladies recently added to society mono create
II more interest than Mrs. Spencer, wife OF the
Alabama Senator. As seen from the gallery
/ of the Senate, where she is a frequent atten'
1dant, she is very pretty woman, OF dark
saow complexion, thin lips, hne teeth ana a
small, straight nose. Her chief beauty lies IN
her eyes-large, dark and expressive, with
theavy lashes and arching broWs. a oroad
1brimmcd black hat forms ashadoWy halo round
| her face, and mulberry colored suit throws
| slight color into her cheeks. Some say shc |;
Cuban by birth, and from her native island
Gained the trouical beauty that northern oil
mate is dspelling; others, that she is from the
1South, WITH Spanish ancestors. AS 40 actoss
belonging to Days Fifth Avenue Theatre she
played her parts we'll but never rose to great
!, heights, nor gave promise OF any remarkable
talents. The susceptible Senator came, saw,
! was conquered, and on the shortest notice bore
l her off on a wedding tour to Deadwood, over
(which portion of the country the lady went 10
to raptures, and the Senator interested himself
! 10 mines lands and ranches. Those who saw
The gentleman when he was first out there IN
| the early spring described him as the most tho
trough Black Hitler out there. lie cntorcd
sthoroughIy into the life aud spirit OF the place.
wore hickory shirts. souch hat and top boots
carried brace of revolVers, and was 10 his sad
. die all day. Speculatious among those saplont
miners we're that, after his present term 10 the
ISenate, and when the Black Hills has been
made into Territory OF Its own by reason OF hls
linterests there, he would cntcc lnto political
tnrominenc, and again enter the Senatoria
arena, representing the great NorthWast.-'ot'
lLous Globe Democrat.
Why SIMON CANE TO WAsHINGToN.-
tSimop Cameron was here last week, but not OF
tnoltical business. He came quietly, saw only
few persons, and, but for an accidental mcIo
ing, nobody outside select circle would haV
s, Lnovn of his visit. His business was cntlre
nersooaI. The hearing 10 the celebrated cas-
Of Oliver vs. Cameron was set tor this term Q
court, but for reasons best known to delendan
he sought aud obtained postponcment. /
seems that all efforts to effect o comprouis Is
with the widow Oliver have failed, because 81
| is not to bo bought off chcapIy. She demand
| q good round sum. Cameron OBJECTED to tn
price demanded aud meant to fight 1t out, by
Don Cameron does not want the scandal Il
suit must cause if it reaches trial IN q
courts, and SO Simon jouroeyed here TO eonsu
his lawyer as to what could be done toWaru s
curing better terms than inc "laoI law ,aTyI -
have beeu demanding. understand that u
rosrI, woe not satisfactory, and that Instead
tIower;ng their demands the counsel OF Mr.
Oliver intimated that they would increase the
If further delays were iuterposed.-C@'. Nc