The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-06-23
Dead Letters.

washington recently, on the Mysteries
of the Deadletter 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 a gentleman travelling on bust
ness sent letter containing 81 800 to
his wife at home. BY some upaccount-
able neglect he sealed the envelope and
deposited it in the mail without any
address whatever. After the letter was
opened ut the deadletter office we
found that he had written but few
lines announcing his determination to
60 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
Aston House, New York. signed
"Chauncey," inclosing 50, 600 to lady
as remuneration for the care with
which she had treated his parents. The
letter stated he was going to Europe.
The letter was misdirected. and was
opened at the deadletter 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 superscriptions 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,
$40 for Bob, and l send it this way so
that the postmaster won't steal it,"
"Postmasters, please deliver this to the
You'd the wallet factory, that wears a
black dress and sack, white straw hat
and brown face trimmings. Now don't
make 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.
o C.
the child is placed in kindergarten"
school, and later, if of well-to-do par
ents she is sent to a young ladies'
seminary. Here she is instructed not
only in her own language but also in
FRENCH hn?iisa ah9 perhaps llaiiah )
music, craving, anu painting are iio'
loreo'ten' ere"' pains are Iaheii " ~ ,n'
slruct her IN Ensils. ana uern,h ii''
era'"fe, Wniio ina'leiiia'ics 'nu liie
SCIENCES SCI, are heeiec'eo OF SOON cropped.
Mheh apo", e1Shteen years o, age sue
and enters society with her mother. 1t
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 a
parent or an elderly person, and as for
travelling alone, 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.
istered and announced in the city
papers. Printed notices are also sent
to friends, and the happy couple APP