Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-17
DEAD LETTERS.


letters and packages in countless num-
bers which are the mute monuments of
carelessness. There are gathered the
evidences of thoughtless suicides. muir
ders Of chirography, aud fatal accidents
which results from carelessness. All
letters or packages which have upon or
IN them the faintest traces of ownership
are carefully traced to their homes; but
there remain countless articles, each
having value, be it more or less, which
accumulate day after day. The corse-
quence is that the Office becomes clog
ged up with the multitude of things
which have strayed away from their
owners, and it becomes necessary to
hold an annual clearing sale 'to make
room for more stock" as the tradasmen
say in their announcements. These
sales have become feature in Wash
1ngton, and the curious crowd pick up
many a choice bargain. The annual
sale will begin in Washington this year
at 10 a. m. December 4, and will con-
tinue until the stock is disposed of.
The catalogue is a curiosity in its way,
and gives one an idea of the kind of az
ticles forwarded through the mails. The
list includes 1902 lots, which in many
cases are made up of number of differ
ent articles, thus swelling the aggre-
gate Of pieces to an enormous number.
The figures given represent the num-
Der Of packages carelessly addressed,
lnsufliciently paid, or containing IN
maAable articles for which no owners
could be found after systematic inquiry
About twenty per cent. OF these articles
would have been returned on payment
of postage had the senders availed
themselves Of the simple device of put
ting their name and address on the
wrapper. The amount realized from
the sales is reclaimable at any time
within four years on receipt of proper
proof from the sender or the person adj
dressed.
In the catalogue are included 7,180
lots of miscellaneous articles, the com
binations in each package being often
fantastic and grotesque. Gentlemen
who may be unprovided with necllwear
can turn to the very first lot On the list
and purchase q dozed linen collars, size
sixteen and one-half. Just what tie
sender was after when he inclosed in
lot 10 box of keys, some window fast
eners, two casters, and rivet-head, Is
hard to imagine, and a similar assert
ment, which might truly be called "mis-
cellaneous," consists of twentyfour
pieces of isinglass, two coils OF wire,
two paint-brushes, an old razor, pan
of scissors, and a pocket-knife. A black
lace tie, corset, size 81, piece of blue
ribbon, and two hair-bangs are unmis-
takably feminine; while a damaged
meerschaum cigar-holder, a felt hat,
brian pipe, three soiled cuffs, and re-
Yolver are Enthusiastically masculine; but
it is difficult to classify collection en-
bracing a hair-switch, six pocket-knives,
six tooth-brushes, pair of striped hose,
five toy wind-mills, three smokers dress
ing-cases, a cotton shirt, and a lot Of
damaged toys.
From a careful study of the returns it
would appear that the fair sex are large
~ to blame for the sale, for fully three
fOurths of the packages contain articles
essentially -frizzes, bangs,
switches, shoes, baby clothes, lace,
gloves, thread. needles, sewing
attachments and articles which single
men seldom see. The males are re-
spOnsible for the revolvers, which are
unavailable, but both must bear the
blame for the pocket-knives, which are
constantly turning up in the most I'M
expected places, being sandwiched in
between false front and a pair Of col
cred corsets, or a tobacco pouch and a
screw-driver. There must be men at
that sale, for it takes man to bid on
an umbrella cover, pair of gents kid
gloves, and pair Of soiled half-hose,
which forms lot No. 461, but there must
also be some Of the other sex at the
sale, for no horrid man would dare lift
up his voice for lot No. COL, which com
prises a complete set of lady's soiled
Undertaking. The packages number
ed from 1911 to 1919 each contains a
box of violin strings, while those from
1886 to 4,707 are each made up of hair
-combings and hair switches.
There are any quantity of toys, a
washing a clothes-wringer, and
135 packages of music. The title OF
one of them. ''Let Me Dream Again,
suggests that the sender was practicing
the dream business when he mailed the
package, will He Come" might be an
swered had still another ballad reached
It's destination, while "The Letter in the
Candle" Is especially appropriate to d
piece of mail in the Dead-Letter Office
There are exactly 1924 packages OF
books which will never delight the
minds of the people for whom they
were intended. There are scores of Bi.
bles, dozens Of religious works, ant
plenty of standard volumes by authors
of note. "Songs for the Sanctuary" i:
wed9ed in between american Educa
ton" and "Guetier's Metallic Alloy
while How Gamblers Win" finds {
place between two dictionaries. And
by the way, it may be observed that the
number Of people who are stumbling
about in literary darkness for want O.
the dictionaries which never reached
them IS simply alarming, and fit sub
ject for Congressional Investigation.
The last schedule embraces different
packages of jewelry, and these vii
doubtless be eagerly scanned by tht
bidders, for many of them appear to bt
valuable. Watches, chains, rings, eye
glasses, and tableware appear in profu
sion and confusion, many being of evi