Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-09
Ez0W TO SEND THINGS BY NAIL.


article appeared in Haper's Weekly on the sub
iect OF tire Dead Letter Office. and truly appai-
ling were the revelations concerning the num-
Der of articles consigned to that vault of dead
ard buried treasures. where. like those in the
tombs of the PtClemys. they remain as records
not always of human civilization but Of human
f0Olishness for many of those unclaimed arti-
cies might never have gone astray had they been
| properly secured by the sender.
There are a countless variety of articles sent
by mail. from a dress TO be aundried to dainty
flower: and when we consider how many care
less hands there are. and thoumhtless heads too
set To this work. the wonder arises not that so
many are lost. but that so many reach their des-
tnation despite the loose manner in which they
are done up and the many mistakes made in di-
rectinT them
Every one is or ought to be acquainted with
the rules for sending various grades of goods
through the mails. No parcels should he sealed
for they might contain cOEtraband stuff. All
writing inside is strictly interdicted. for good
reasons. on all second-ciass mail matter. If YOU
want to write so much as two words YOU must
Pay letter postage for it, or be liable to do So
at any rate.
There may be a charm in evading the Post
Office laws. Just as there is in evading the GUS
tom house laws. but it is attended with the
same dangers of discovery and punishment.
But your parcels must be fastened securely:
SO you generally take piece of Irvine to tie up
the package. which is quite right. But you
great many hands. and very often is shaken to-
gether with other articles in tumble worthy of
q gIab-bag at a country fair. The right way
properly to secure parcel. for instance. of dry
goods. is to fold it in the smallest possible COM
pass consistent with keeping the articles from
being creased; then roll a soft piece of paper
around. secured with an elastic; this will not
add much to the weight and will insure its not
being soiled in case the outer wrap is disturbed
Then have a good stout piece of brown paper
hat
on each side, and then up over the top. creasng
them so as TO make a square. compact and neat
package. Any one in doubt how to do this
deity had better observe the salesman in q dry
goods store the next time she goes to buy
dress. Next take Irvine, but not too coarse
flax Irvine is the best. as it will not snap and
break in tying-cross it over both sides, and
tic it i'll the middle Now direct your par
Gel clearly and distinctly with the name
of the receiver in full. as well as the
post Office address. Do not leave out the
names of the county or the state and i'm one
corner write distinctly 'Dry goods ONLY" or
4" No writing within" Some put on "Second-
Class matter only. and be sure it is true to the
letter Lastly. take two pieces of Irvine of equal
length. one for each end, pass each of these
around the narrowest part of the bundle i'm such
q way as to catch :ia longest cord both above
and below. and tic them securely together ANY
woman who is familiar with crochet work knows
Just row this is done; the object is to prevent
tht ioi9 suing iioIH silppinH OH. WHICH Is the
reason Eine-tenths of the packages sent by mail
get lost. The last two cords must be passed
around the main one or else 1T will not be
secure; and pray observe that you must tie your
knots very tight. first good strong knot, then
small bow-knOt is most advisable For want
OF such care in simply tying a knot we have
known handsome embroidery and delicate silk
received halt out of their wraps the only Won
der being that the contents ever kept company
with the address at all.
( oCriIo
as she'll jewelry, fans. combs, or trinkets of any
sort, BY mail. 90 not fail TO put them in a box
and fill up the interstices with raw cotton.
which will prevent their rattlng, keep them free
from the action OF the atmosphere, and insure
their not being broken. The same NAV be said
OF any china or glassware. which should nyari-
ably be wrapped in cotton batting before being
boxed. Indeed. we strongly recommend that
ali delicate articles. such as lace buttons rib
b0ns. etc, should be put in a box. Put an
elastic over the box to keep the cover in place
even if the wrap comes loose. Then do your
box up IN good strcng brown paper. and tie up
precisely * before suggested Boxes are now
nlade So hght. Of such variety of shapes and
sizes. that no one can fail to find suitable one
on occasion. aad really they add very little to
the weight in comparison with the security of
your Parcel The expense is trfing. Who
would gIudge few cents in saving as many
dollars. perhaps ten times as many?
Now as regards nlants. The conveyance Of
introduction Oh new plants is Perhaps rs efficient
q plilanfhTcphy rs can be practiccd for they
advance civilization and increase our knowledge:
they fertIiiZe waste places. and beautify barren
ones As plants. seeds. and cut flowers can all
he carried safely and cheaply by mail every one
should in his or her humble sphere endeayor to
do something toward spreading useful and rare
plants 10y sending them to distant friends to
mission stations, and out-o-the-way places. and.
If travellers or explorers to institutions of learn
pf D1tI
Eut what is the best protection for such in
conveying them through the mails? If living
plants. they should be very carefully spread out
so that the roots should be as little disturbed as
possible Line box of the proper size with
fresh moss from the woods, free from earth or
stones Then place them on this messy bed and
cover carefully with the same Dampen it
slightly. Close the lid of the box tight-a cigar
boX Is best for these frai delicate objects
a paste board enc is best for other tliinrs
Put an elastic band round the box tie I'D in
stout paper with piece of Irvine, aud mark it
distinctly as before directed and i'm one corner
put the words, plants only" When it can be
procured the Southern Spanish moss is the
very best thing TO use in packing plants
Seeds need only be put in dry, tight box,
and as you cannot put any writing inside let
them be done up I'm diffprent-colOred papers.
For instance. blue. seeds of larkspur: pink.
petunias; yellow. nasturtium. etc: and then on
postal card sent sroarateIy designate what
flowers are in such or such papers. There will
then be no trouble Or you might gum on the
outside OF your papers printed numbers or letters
cut from neWspapers-1. g g. or a. b. c. for
instance-and then send the glossary by mail ON
postal card.
Cut flowers are often sent by mail. How re-
freshing in sck-rOOm i'm the depth of winter is
the fragrant box of hot-hOuse flowers coming i'm
ana suddenly changing the whole atmosphere
by one magic SPELL Have Il box and place there
IN a daiiip-nOt Wet-piece of tissue paper or.
n Cf
and srrinkled. On these lay some Crane leaves
slightly dainpened- Arrange your flowers with
In. cover with grape leaves. lastly with Wa1ding
similarly dampened. Put your cover on your
box. and fasten securely, observing the direc-
tons given for packages. We have heard of
plants beng sent securely and fresh from Port
land. Oregon. to New York. in q scOoped-out
potato Cut the top off large potato so as to
make 1t Ike the lid of a box. Scoop out the DO
tato entirely. leaving only rim half an inch
thick around and scoop ont the lid In the same
way Put YOUR precious plant in this natural
box. cover with the i'd tie up with an elastic.
anu then wrap the potato up in stout paper we'll
tied up, and it will go safely. and the moisture
0ithe potato supplies nOurishment enough to
the plant to prevent its whiting This is worth
trying with small plants that have to go any
distance.
Books are often sent by mail. and they should
invariably be lett open Oh one end in order to
show what they are, but ii is not necessary to
leave the covers of the book ont so as to have
their freshness rubbed of. Fold a neat piece of
paper on the book as if you were going to cover
1t. shut down the covers, then cut one end OF