Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-07-09
PoSTOFFICE SECRETS.
Information that is Thoughtlessly Inn
parted to officials.

Information that is ThoughtlessIy Inn
parted to Officials.
The Napoleon postoffice and postoffices
generally, are, perhaps, the receptacle of
more confidential information than any
otherinstitution, public or private, in the
country. There are, probably, Others in
which the secrets are of more deli
cate, ifnot sacred, character, and which
have been impaired under the most
trying circumstances, or discovered by
professional or expert skill.
What are known as postoffice secrets
are impaired direct, or permitted Incl
dentally to become known with appar=
emily the utmost unconcern on the part
of the person interested, and often moth
ing of the kind is demanded or even re-
motely necessary. Instances of this
character are SO numerous. and occur
so readily to the mind of the expert
enced postoffice official as to be almost
confusing. There is a feeling abroad
that anything of a confidential nature
is safe in the hands of postoffice en-
ploye or official, and SO seldom has this
confidence been violated, or in aEy way
abused, that the assumption seems well
grounded, and is not likely to be very
soon shaken. But there is class of in
formation that incidentally comes into
the possession of the official that can,
as matter of illustration, and more
especially as valuable means of in
struction, be used with the commission
of names and other identifying specifi-
cations. 10 every experienced post
office official it is apparent that there is
so much of needless information inn
parted, and so much carelessness used
in Withholding private affairs from
those not interested that some lessons
are demanded.
\ former postoffice employe was en-
countered few evenings since by re-
porter, and, with some difficulty, was
made to yield up some of the informa-
ton he was known to possess in refer
ence to the interior conduct of a large
city postoffice.
"What is the nature of the infOrma-
ton that comes into possession of post
office people?" was asked.
"It partakes of every character. Busi-
ness secrets and social and domestic
unhappiness, intrigues and unfaithful-
ness predominant. The former should
be sacred. The man who, in the very
nature of things, has to make his busi-
ness and its extent known, should be,
and is, quite safe"
"How about other classes?"
II am not quite so sure about their
cases. The number of designations that
are carried on through the mails is as
appalling as a knowledge of the persons
engaged is astounding. To one ac-
quainted with these persous and meth
ods employed, no beard can be so gray
or the social and religious standing so
high as to exempt him or her from sus-
picion."
"To what extent does this exist
tamong the class just named?"
"Fortunately to limited extent, but
enough to arouse grave doubts in ones
mind and cause him to suspect even
his friends. Their names should be
emblazoned everywhere, and their mis-.
deeds made known to the world. lam
able to assert that there are persons Ell.
gagged in clandestine correspondence in
this city who, Unknown, would be driven
from society and business position"
"Who are the other classes?"
"Principally young girls. They be.
long to all classes. Mothers who turn
their daughters out for an evening
stroll, or visit to some lady friend lit.
tie imagine that their first and often
only destination is the postoffice. They
get their letters under assumed names
and it is extremely difficult to know
that the name is an assumed one. Theil
folly usually leads them to adopt two
or more names, and then their case is
easily disposed of, unless they are O.
the more persistent kind, which is moi
uncommon. Frequently they will ap
peal from the ruling of the clerk direct
to the highest official that can be fOunC
and timidly admit the character of the
correspondence, and plead for its deliv'
cry; ,,coa ,.o,,,,o. o;u,s,,
mot by any means. The adroit, eX
perienced, married woman, whose do
nestle duties keep her at home the
greater part of the week, and who only
comes to the postoffice when she knows
there is a letter for her, is the hardes
customer to get rid of. She, of course
corresponds utlueI XII dSSIlllcu HdlIlS
If addressed in her own name the di
rectory would be used in hunting ou
her residence, and the letter delivered
there, which is the very thing she viii
not have. But according to the eterna
fitness of things while she is stealing ;
march" on her husband, the chance
are that he double discounts her 10y
renting a private box where he cal
come unquestioned and receive his let
ters, and no one be any wiser for 1t
That is another one of the disadvanta
ges under which the weaker sex labors
can amusing incident was witnessed
at city general delivery a short TIM
ago. A woman called for and received
a letter under another. The secont
letter was there, but the clerk refused
to give it to her. 1t chanced to be il
her right name, and she stood upon he
rights and demanded it at once, threat
ening to lay the matter before her hus
band. That worthy, unexpectedly t.
her, happened along and overheard tn,
latter part of the conversation and will
husbandly manner promptly stepped
up and demanded to know in what wa,
his services were needed. His was al
unexpected presence, and turning sud
denly she took his arm and said
"Come, let us CO." But he insisted OF
an explanation, and she hurriedly ex
planned that she had asked for lette
| for a friond and was refused Rut sh