Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-07-27
UN1LAHABLE NATTER.
Sposlt Canaries, Grasshoppers assd Ostrich
PlSc1seS.

department very little known to many,
but yet it is one of the most peculiar
branches of complex organism. It is
the morgue of the Office. Technically
it is known as the Office of inquiry, but
its principal features are something
quite different. It is veritable curios-
ity shop, and the clerks are connoisseurs
in peculiarities. The Office in itself is
little room boarded off from the main
floor of the postofice, and contains
desks for half dozen clerks, tables and
pigeon-holes. It is a seine which catches
all the unavailable, misdirected and par
TALLY prepaid matter.
The postal regulations forbid the pas
sage through the mails of glass, confec-
tionery, explosives, grease, liquid, sharp
pointed articles and anything which is
liable to injure other mail. In spite of
this prohibition many people persist in
sending these articles, others misdirect
or fail to direct at all, and still others
do not put enough postage on their
mail to carry it through. About $50
pieces are received daily, and hence it
becomes necessary to have distinct de-
partment to handle this class of mail.
Every piece of merchandise in packages
is examined by regular clerks; and
where it is found to contain unavailable
matter it is turned over to this division.
Notices are sent to the addressed or the
sender, as the case may be, and an effort
is made to have the articles claimed by
the owners if possible. One lady sent
to taxidermist beloved canary which
she wanted stuffed. Either the mails
were too slow or the bird too quick, for
by the time he arrived at the Office the
clerks were unable to sit in the same
Office with him, and the poor little bir-
die was thrown out into the cold world
without any notice to his former propri-
etor or the taxidermist. A box of grass
hoppers came to pieces the other day,
and the festive insects were rather the
worse for wear. Candy in dainty boxes
sent by some laddie to his lassie is met
with every day, and blacking, ink and
medicine are staples in this little room.
A loaded revolver sometimes slips in,
and knives and slung-shots are by no
means uncommon. Examining little
package the reporter was astonished to
find thermometer which the sender
had considered sufficiently protected by
sheet of tissue-paper.
Fruit, confectionery, glass articles,
cutlery and dead animals are staples.
Horned toads, a key of butter, the
plaster cast of jaw, hotel keys and
ostrich plumes are occasionally re-
ceived. Often things are insecurity
wrapped, and fall out in transit. When
they reach this city they are sent to
this office. Ostrich plumes are very
frequently found loose. They are
left for few days, and, if no inquiry is
made. are sent to the Dead-Letter Office
at Washington. People should pack
things carefully, but at the same time
in such way that they can be easily
examined, for every package must be
examined. Then, again, if the sender
would mark his name on the outside,
with the word from" it would facilitate
matters should the articles be in
sufficiently prepaid or be unavailable.
There will always be careless people
probably, but it would seem as if there
were an undue proportion of them.
Every day packages are mailed without
the slightest address upon them, and in
these cases there is nothing by which
the sender OF addressee can be reached.
Many Of the cases of alleged carelessness
on the part Of postal officials can prob
ably be charged to this account. Then,
again, may people fail to put enough
postage on their mail. Every Tuesday
this Office collects an average of four
large sacks of Sunday newspapers
which are insuficiently prepaid. It
should be known once for all that no
matter is forwarded unless fully pre-
paid except letters. When in doubt,
the sender should take the trick by
putting on the extra stamp. The
matter Of directing is also important.
Some people seem to think that the
S.cto IS OF no consequence in address,
Ilg z letter or package, but it cannot
b.. forwarded Is there is the slightest
po sole doubt as to the address.
Possibilities ere at discount, and the
ro~to.lice cannot be expected to proceed
Oh guesswork.