The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-02-24
Dead Letters.


Washington recently, on the "Mysteries
of the Dead-letter Office" Mr.. Hughes
was for some time clerk in the dead
letter Office ana relates some interest
ing experiences connected with the de-
livery of dead letters. About 10 900
are opened daily, and the money con-
tanned in these amounts to about $751;
600 month. An interesting case was
where gentleman travelling on bust
ness sent letter containing 81 500 to
his wife at home. BY some unaccount-
able neglect he sealed the envelope and
deposited it in the mail without any
address whatever. After the letter was
opened at the dead letter office we
found that he had written but few
lines announcing his determination to
go further South, not mentioning any
probable destination, and signing the
name George" There was no clue
to trace the wife, and but slight one
to find the writer. After long search
George was discovered on the hotel
register, the only person out of thirty
two OF the same name who had merely
signed his name without saying where
he was from, or whittier going. An
other case, somewhat similar, was the
following: A letter was written. dated
Astor House, New York, signed
"Chauncey," inclosing $4,000 to lady
which she had treated his parents The
letter stated he was going to Europe.
The letter was misdirected, and was
opened at the dead-letter office. the
postmaster of New York was instructed
to make inquiries at the Aston House
for Cnauncey, who, after some trouble,
was found and the money returned to
him the very afternoon he left for Eu-
rope. The following are some Of the
singular superseriptions ON dead let
tiers: please hand to my mother, and
oblige Mary" "Sal, if you want to hear
from your DO, you had better come and
get this letter. "In this letter there i
$50 for Bob, and send it this way so
that the postmaster won't steal it,"
"Postmasters, please deliver this to the
young lady living in the first house be-
yond the wallet factory, that wears
black dress and sack, white straw hat
and brown face trimmings. Now don't
make n mistake" Several letters are
received addressed to the devil, Santa
Claus and other like personages. Of
ten these letters, with their foolish SUI
prescriptions, contain money.
GERMAN GIRLs.-At very early age
the child is placed in Kindergarten"
school, and later, if of well TODD par
ents, she is sent to a young ladies'
seminary. Here she is instructed not
only in her own language but also in
French, English and perhaps Italian;
music, drawing, and painting are not
forgotten; great pains are taken to in
struct her in English and German lit
erature, while mathematics and the
sciences are neglected or soon dropped.
When about eighteen years Of age she
is confirmed. Finally, she leaves school
would be deemed improper fer young
lady, or even two, to attend any enter
tainment or visit any place of amuse-
ment without being accompanied by
parent or an elderly person, and as for
travelling alono, that is entirely out of
the question. Should lover aspire to
her hand, he consults her parents on
the subject, and makes them the me-
diators. If all is satisfactory, lie makes
her present of plain gold ring, and
places one of the same kind on his own
finger. When all is arranged they pro-
coed to the mayors Office and inform
him of the engagement, when it is reg
istereu and announced in the city
papers. Printed notices are also sent
to friends, and the happy couple APP
pear arm in arm on the street. After
the engagement he can see the young
lady alone and take her occasionally to
the theatre or other place of amuse-
ment. After marriage, the pair are in
great measure independent of each
other, both pursuing their own peculiar
amusements, he readily succumbing to
the destinations of billiards and beer.
FAors ABOUT IMPoRTATIoNs.-Ex-
Speaker Grow, of the National House,
made a speech lately, at Portland. Me-,
on public affairs, in the course Of which
he gave the following statistics:
The importation of foreign merchan-
disc in 1870 foreign valuation in gold)
was S435, 95S, 40S, or at the rate of SILL
80 per capita of the population: In 1872
the imports were $500, 595, OFT, and in
1873 they were S642, log, 2lO, or at the
rate of SIG. O5 per capita, being 60 per
cent greater than the average for twelve
years Immediately preceding 1870.
The amount per capita of foreign i'm
portations for twenty years preceding
1S7O never exceeded $40 per day. The
importation Of foreign merchandise
(coin valuation for four years-lS7l to
1874 inclusive) was 81, 356, 1861 ,314, an
amount exceeding the present national
debt, and $3.50, 876,3O3 more than the