Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-12-21
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
Nc MLSTER'S HISTURY
of the People of the Uuitcd states.

of the People of the Uuitcd states.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ouR EARLY POS
tai SERVICE.
There are few books in the Free Public
Library more interesting TO the student
Of American history than the one mention
ed above 1t is to be completed in five vol
umes, the first two Of which are already
upon the shelves, while the remaining vol
umes will be added as soon as they are pub
lished. The period included in the work is
from the close Of the Revolution to the civil
war, and the style Of the author is so de
lightful that the reader is almost uncon-
scously carried forward through the con
sideration Of topics, which, as treated by
other writer's, he has frequently found the
reverse Of interesting. The New England
life in its different professions aud callings
as it existed a century since, is described in
most fascinating manner Under the
several topics Of the farmers, schoolmas
ters, doctors and ministers, there are
brought before US vivid pen pictures Of
those remote times. With the hope Of in
teresting young persons in the study of the
history of their own country, the writer
sends this communication and in order to
furnish an example Of the authors style
the following extract is also given. 1t re-
fcis to that branch Of tho public service
(Which more than any other has aided the
growth Of trade and prosperity Of the ma
ton w. If. COLLINS
The sums now annually expended on
the carriage of letters and newspapers ex
ceed one half the amount Of the domestic
debt at which our ancestors stood appalled,
at the close Of the Revolution. The mum.
ber Of letters carried from place to place in
twevemonth exceeds six hundred mil
lions the distance travelled by these let
ters over one hundred millions Of miles,
More mails are now sent out and received
daily in New York than in Washiugton's
time went from the same city TO all parts Of
the country in the course of half year
More letters are delivered in that city ev
cry four and twenty hours than when
Franklin held office were distributed in the
thirteen states in a whole year. When the
British evacuated New York letters were
sent 10 Boston twice a week during the
winter. Six days were passed on the road
but at New Years time, when the snow lay
deep. the post riders between these great
cities rarely saw the church spires Of Bls-
ton till towards the close of the ninth day
The average days Journey Of the postman
was from thirty to fifty miles in summer
and considerably less in winter. Many
years elapsed before the bulk aud weight Of
the mails attained such proportions as to
exceed the capacity Of a pair of saddle bags
That from New York to Philadelphia went
out five times in "A week, and was for many
years carried bv boys ON horseback 1t
was, however, in the small country towns
far removed from the great post roads that
the slowness and irregularity Of the mails
were greatest. In the mountains Of New
Hampshire, in the hill country of Pennsyl-
vania, in the rice swamps of Georgia and
the Carolinas. letters were longer in going
70 their destination than they now are in
reaching Pekin Letters sent out from
Philadelphia were five weeks in winter go
ing distance now passed over in "a single
afternoon. In most favored places they
were received and despatched once week,
and that was AN occasion Of no small i'm
portance. On the day when the post rider
was due, IA day which was known not by its
name, rs set down in the weekly calendar,
but as post day, half the village assembled
to be present at the distribution of the mail.
which in good weather, and in bad alike,
took place at the inn The package for the
~ hole village was generally made up Of
roll Of newspapers week old, and bundle
Of drugs for the doctor. 1t was a great day
wherein, in addition to the usual post, "a
half dozen letters were given out. Then,
as the townsnen pressed around the inn
door 10 make al ramgements for borrowing
the 'newsprint. or IN hear the contents Of
it read aloud 10y the minister or the land
lord, the postmam was carried home hy one
If the throng to share the next repast at
which, as the listeners preserved an admir-
ing silence he dispensed the news and the
gossip collected along the way.
In some regions remote from the trav-
ellcd highways, it often happened that the
post rider was man stricken in years,
who, as his beast logged slowly along,
whiled the hours away by knitting wooden
mittens and stockings. At other places the
letters lay for months in the office, there
being no money wherewith TO p4y their
transportation.
For the security of mails carried over
long distances there was no protection what
ever 1t was well known aud loudly com
planned Of that letters and packages were
opened and their contents read and exam
ined by the riders. That most salutary law
which extends sure protection to letters,
and even to telegraphic messages, had no
existence. Nor was it till many years later,
when the bulk and number Of the mails had
greatly increased, and the carriers found no
time to read the notes they bore, that this
lagrant evil ceased to exist. For long
time after the Revolution business men, and
men holding high places in the state, We're
accustomed to correspond in cipher. Such
was the practice of Madison, of Jefferson,
of Monroe and Of Aaron Burr. against whom
it has often been foolishly cited as II sure in
dication Of crafty and a cunning disposi
ton As stage wagons and coaches became
more and more common between the large
towns. letters were often entrusted to a
friend or even to "A stranger. to be left at the
Red Dragon, or some other inn frequented by
the person to whom they were addressed.