Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-12

SOME THINGS A CITY POSTMASTER Is ASKED
TO Do.-The postmaster of great city seems
to be regarded by many persons who live at
a distance as a general agent to transact
business for the people. The postmaster at
Boston receives 200 letters day, and many
of them contain ridiculous inquiries. Some
are pathetic appeals for information about
lost friends or relatives, but the majority of
those which arc not legitimate business cor
respondence come from persons who regard
the postmaster as a combination of mercan-
tile agent and detective. An Ohio man asked
the postmaster to tell him about the honesty
of firm which offered to sell an organ for
So; Missouri man desired similar informa-
tion concerning GO cents which he had sent
to firm which offered him two sets of plated
teaspoons for that sum, and two young men
in the West wrote as follows
''We are two young fellows, anxious to get
married. We were told that all we had to do
was to write the postmaster of Boston, and
he would pick us out couple of girls. We
want couple of good-looking, healthy,
strong girls between the ages of IS and 20.
We mean business and are able to take care
of them. Ask them to send their names and
pictures to us, and then we will send ours in
return, and when we come on to get them
pay you for your trouble"
A heart-broken mother in Virginia begged
the postmaster to find her missing son, her
youngest and the last of large family. Her
request was placed in the hands of the police.
A New Hampshire mother wrote an affecting
letter about her daughter, who had gone
from her native hills to be swallowed up in
the vortex of the great city. The girl had
been fond of dancing. Her mother thought
the letter-carrier might find her. "Oh, Lord
God of the heavens above" she wrote, II
pray this may find my child speedily" A
poor girl in Missouri asked if there were any
persons by the name of Rumroy in Boston
she was trying to find her uncle. An Ohio
girl asked the postmaster to act as commits
sion agent in buying her some sea-shells,
spotted, if you have them" A Long Islander,
who wrote good letter, desired full particu-
lars about rents and health in all the suburbs
of Boston; Mobile dancing master asked
the postmaster to introduce two of his dances
in the city; a New Hampshire rag -gatherer
wished to become acquainted with a dealer
in old junk, and a young man asked for the
names of all the Boston lawyers on one postal
card. An Ohio man wrote for information
about his wife, who was supposed to be liv-
ing with another man in Boston. The wo-
man was found, but she refused to return.
The postmaster is requested to make thor,
ough search for missing men, to examine rec
ords in the interest of heirs to property, and
to inspect goods for sale. An Irishman came
to America 90 years ago, and is supposed to
be in Texas. The postmaster is requested to
find him and receive the thanks of the
writer" In some cases the postmaster has
inquiry made by the authorities. For exam
pie, woman in England desired to find her
brother, from whom she had been parted 20
years. After a long search he was found,
and was greatly relieved by the message from
his sister, for whom his son had sought in
vain during a visit of several weeks in Eng
land