The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-10
THE MICE. EASY TIMES" THAT
POSTAL CLERKS HAVE.
A Faithful. But Jolly Class OF Pub
lie Servants.
special Correspondence Palatka News.

special Correspondence Palatka NEWS
Coming down the st. Johns on the
mail steamer II. II. Plant had occasion
% POST letter, and inquiRing my way to
the mail room found it locked. Much
annoyed, turned TO a young man, who
sat half reclining on large pile Of mail
bags, fastened by his teeth to the cool
end OF a cigar. alternately gazing into
space and blowing clouds Of smoke into
the face OF ''cOon" near by.
Can you tell me where the postal
clerk is:' l asked. Yes" came the an.
swer and pun. went another cloud of
smoke into the ''coOn's" face. while a
lazy emile spread over the countenance
OF the young mau. "Well. where is he::"
ventured. "Here he is: right here. I'm
your man." came the answer. want
anything he said, half rising. "Yes," /"
and handed him my letter. 1T is going
10 New York" said l, exphnatorily.
.Hnmph! don't you suppose | can read"
was the rejolnder. YES" said |, half
smiling, "and perhaps you can smoke.
too" ! suggested rs handed him a fine
cigar. In an instant he sat bolt upright
and; smiling pleasantly, he accepted the
profiered cigar with thanks.
.Sit down." he said, "and make your
self miserable" proceeded to do Us in.
vitcd, and by way OF starting conver.
sation ! said, half banteringly, You
fellows have soft snap OF it, don't
you:' "Soft snap. eh:' said he, warm.
ing up "Well. you Just believe all Of
that you want to until get through talk.
ing to you, aud then see il you can be.
lieve it,"
l became interested Immediately and,
lighting fresh cigar, l settled down and
commenced a conversation that left me
nQ 2 calder, but . viser man.
Its the general impression" said
ne, 'that the railway mail service is,
like all government employment, a sine.
cure. Some people have no idea Of its
existence. not knowing what becomes OF
letter after 1t is dropped in the letter
box. They have vague idea that it
goes to its destination by a train, but
think no further. Others have an idea
that mail IL made up in post offices and
locked up in various pouches or bags, to
BE- delivered to their destination by some
one employed by Uncle Sam. who has
only to sit In a car oil to himself and
swing his feet until station il reached,
then Jump up and throw out a bag and
take IN another, and then commence the
feet swinging process again until the
destination is reached. The idea ,s4hat
all the hard work il done in the post of.
flee. but il is a great mistake.
"A few people, and q very few, pro.
portionasely speaking, know what we
have to contend with, and no ono can
fully realize the labor and worry locked
up in one Of Uncle Sans mail apart.
ments except those who have been
there
We'll" asked, "how loug have you
been on duty:'
III went to my car at 1880 today in
Tampa and commenced work. The mail
steamer from Key West brought heavy
mail to me just before leaving. We left
Tampa at ? o'clock. A peck basket
would fail to hold the letters and other
mail dropped in my car for mailing at
Tampa, and yet there IL the post office
and plenty Of time to take mail there;
yet there ia certain class OF people who
are always late and others who don't in.
tend to mail their matter at the proper
place. All this causes us trouble that
should be avoided From Tampa to
Sanford I have been working, without
once stopping as much as three minutes
at time. We cut every package Of
letters and distribute every piece Of mail
that comes in from the offices on our
road, meantime delivering mail at all
these points.
I'VE ATE always in a hurry; must
never guess--but must know--just what
disposition n make Of mail matter.
Standing on the feet, constantly moving
about the car as it Is in motion, working
hand and mind at the same time, Is very
fatiguing work. Oh, it's no pic mic.
You see me resting here, with apparently
nothing to do, but it Is only for about
'steen minutes. and the first have had
since commencing at 1880 o'clock"
How much do you call 'steen' min.
utest' asked.
well, 'steen' IL not quite As much AZ
hum steen," was the laughing reply.
well. but you 20 to bed in a short
time, don't your | ventured.
"Go to bed!' no scornfully repeated.
Oh, you make me tired. No, don't go
to bed until tomorrow night. trans.
ferred to this boat and commenced work
Immediately on leaving the train at San.
ford. Just finished in time for supper
and now In q few minutes We will be to !
another landing where will get more
mail, and % on. It keeps . fellow going
all night and we'll into the small hours
Of the morning. I am thon landed at
Palatka with the mail-too late TO go to
bed and too early for brsakfaat- : 90 moth !,
ing to do but tay around the dock watch.
ing the mail with '~mith. and the rats
and pigeons"
WHO Ia Smith,
"Oh. he's the night clerk on the dock.
Good fellow that. Don't drink, don't
smoke. don't swear. don't chew, don't -
Hold on" interrupted, never mind
Smith, tell me how much longer Won
work.
"Well." he continued, Il 20 to the no.
tel and get my breakfast, and then leave
Palatka on the j., T. & X. ". at $50.
arriving in Jacksonville at 1884, but am /,
not off duty until the mall h delivered
at the post office and all reports made
out, which makes it generally 1890 be.
fore I can say have soul Of m, own"
Then when do YOU come out on the
road AGAIN. l asked.
Next day." said he. and sometimes
the same day. in case Of sickness Of some !
other clerk. We have to 60 rain or shine,
sick or we'll: Of course not II we are too
sick. but in that case we have to pay a
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