St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-03-08
birds and small animals. Near these is

Among other curious things on this
shelf are cows hoof, petritied hui
man ear the talons of an eagle, and,
hanging from a nail, an old 'grip-
sack. On another shelf are several
lunches of fire crackers and two boxes
of matches that were all in the same
! package, a large specimen from the
once famous Modoc lava beds, the III
side works of a clock, and general
variety of pipes, from the primitive
corn-cob to the meerSchaum. Among
these are several Indian pipes. very
curiously wrought. Next to these are
several tambourines, accordions and
musical instruments of various kinds.
Above these is an almost complete
HoRsEMAN's OUTFIT,
including bride, curry-comb and
brush, saddle blanket, halter, STIR
rups, tenders, riding gloves-aIl
except the saddle-and string of
| sleigh-bells. These articles arrived at
different times. There is also small
iron hitching- post, which was not car
ried to its destination, on account of its.
overweight. The other day the Super
| intendent of the Dead-Letter Division
was showing this iron post to a lady
visitor, who was somewhat incredulous.
She could scarcely believe that anybody
would put such thing into the mail.
He assured her that such was the case,
when she asked, with sly twinkle:
"And was the horse hitched to it when
it came here?n About year ago
dead package was opened and found to
| contain
REVOLVER, LOADED AND Cooked.
It was addressed to young woman in
some Western town, and is supposed to
have been intended to do her harm.
The package did not find her and in due
time arrived here, no accident, fort
unately, resulting from the very dam
gerous condition of the weapon 1t was
placed in the museum. and unsuccess-
| full efforts were made to discover. the
person who committed such a vil1ainous
act. Around it are dozen other re-
volyers and pistols of various sizes.
There is a large brick, with postage
stamps on it amounting to forty cents,
but it was heavier than the law allows,
and found a lodgmenT here. There are
not less than two hundred pounds of
geological specimens, including some of
rich gold and silver ores; and a variety
OF agricultural products, consisting of
heads of grain, ears of corn, grasses,
etc., that would make respectable
show at county fair, and miniature
bale of cotton There are number of
notes and bonds of the late Southern Con-
federacy, a large collection of stamps.
and some two hundred coins. One of
the latter is said by numismatists to be
more than two thousand years old.
Among the innumerable
ODDS AND ENDS
of the collection may be mentioned sew
eral pairs of highly ornamented mecca
sins, an old shoe much worn and down
at the heel, several base balls and bats
and catcher's mask, hand-saws,
Ratchet, bottles of medicine, an old
faded umbrella, shoe-lasts. dozen star
fish, artificial teeth, scroll-saw work, |
old army cartridge boxes, worn horse
shoes and silver watch.
While the murderer of President Gar
field was in confinement he mailed |
locks of his hair to numerous persons,
and one of those strayed into the
museum. On the paper is written,
This contains my hair, Charles j.
Guiteau. =
TOKENS OF AFFECTION.
One large case is filled with articles,
many of them of considerable value,
evidently sent as tokens of love and
friendship. Among them are some
very beautiful specimens of embroidery,
crochet and needle-work, handmade
lace, a rich casket full of gold nuggets,
some fine pieces of jeWelry, a number
of small portraits and medallions, and
a very numerous assortment of Christ
mas, Easter and birthday cards. There
are two boxes containing slices of
wedding-cake and numerous articles of
silver, such as cups, napkin-rings, etc.
most Of which reached the Dead-Letter
Office because of neglect to prepay
postage or of carelessness in addressing
them. That the children are not for
gotten is attested by a variety of dolls
and pretty toys. The heart is touched
by some sad souvenirs. One of these is
q wreath of ehildrens' hair wrought into
flowers, and encircling the inscriptions:
I'm memoriam. Dorkest and Ernest;
died April 10Th and goth, 1875"
Two interesting articles are a large
card on which is written the Lords
prayer in ffty-four different languages,
and the first record of valuable letters
received at the United States Dead-Let-
ter Office, covering the years from 1777
to 1888. This is the original document,
and is in the handwriting of Benjamin
Franklin, the first Postmaster-Ge General
During the seven years the number of
nOfrsinS wac $50 n0uy mora than %hof
are made every day.
The museum would not be complete
without the choice gatherings from the