Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-06-05
LErrER-OARR1ERs SECRETS.
Men Who Could Create a Great Sensation
Should They Ten AN They Know.

Men Who Could Create a Great Sensation
Should They Tell An They Know.
Philadelphia Record.
There is not a letter-carrieri in the city
but who is the custodian of the secrets of
someone on his route" said a well-known
postal official yesterday. "What a SEN
sation they would create if what they
knew could be.reVealed at one time! The
divorce courts would be overcroWded,
and rivals for maidens' affections would
be parading the streets, armed to the
teeth, looking for the other fellow. But
there Is barrier to these revelations.
The postal laws strictly provide that
carrier must never tell of what he sees,
repeat what he hears, nor make public
in any manner the address upon letter.
When notified to deliver letters only to
the person to whom addressed 1t is en-
joined upon him to remember this rule,
especially as regards members of the
same family. Well do I remember when
/ was a carrier certain maiden on Broad
street was receiving letters from father
and son. Whether one knew that the
other was writing to the girl do not
know, but this I saw several times:
When she received note from the old
gentleman she was very deliberate in her
movements, but when handed her one
from the son she was out of the house in
a jitfy.
"One of the most annoying things to
the carrier is the impudence of "mash-
ers," have had these fellows intercept
me and offer So or $40 if I would tell who
such lady was, and whether she was
married or not. l remember one lady in
particular, who came here from a neigh
boring city and stopped at the residence
of millionaire. She was magnificent
woman. A man would hardly pass her
without turning around to take a second
look The Washers nearly went crazy
over her, and one met me at nearly every
street corner on my route with same ques-
ton regarding her. [ came near getting
into half dozen fights over her, and L
was glad when she went home. But the
devices of married men and women who
are holding clandestine correspondence
are ingenious. All such people stand up
on volcano, not knowing the minute 1T
will begin to send forth fire and ruined
reputation. One man used to beg me
every day: For Gods sake don't let my
wife get hold of my letters The woman
was as smart as her husband. She was
also holding a secret correspondence, and
l was in that too. She did not want her
husband to know of it. took good care
of both, and they enjoyed cheating each
other. At one time have known on my
route half dozen ladies who were rest
ing under the belief that their husbands
were holding a correspondence which
should not be carried on. Each one would
give me minute directions that if receiv-
ed letter from such and such place to
be sure and hand it to her, as it was i'm
portant and interested both. No doubt
it did, but then l didn't think three
should take hand in the business; only
the husbands received the dainty epis-
ties.
"But the increased facilities of the new
Office offer the most extended opportuni-
ties for sly work. Boxes are cheap, and
the fastest trick now is for husbands to
have their tender epistles sent to these
boxes. They have the key and no one
else can get into it. If the wife happens
to find the key, why she is easily salts
fed by being told it belongs to door at
the store or the safe, or something OF
that sort. You see, only one clerk or so
knows anything of your letters. No one
has any idea where you live or anything
else. But then, postal clerks and letter
carriers learn quickly. Travelling sales
men are becoming heavy patronizers o.
the boxes since they have become cheap
The excuse for these gentry isthat they
receive letters they do not wish to be
sent home. So the envelopes are drop
ped into their boxes, and when they re
turn from their tours they find bundles
of letters and no one to ask question:
that might bother them to answer.