The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-01-05
MAIL ODDITIES.
Queer Things That Are Seen at
the New York Postofflce.
A Museum Filled With Articles
Confiscated BY Unclo Sam.

Confiscated BY Unclo Sam.
On the third floor and west sidc OF
the postoflicc building, overlooking the
court, and shut out from the noise OF the
street, says writer in the N. Y.
Commercial Advertiser, Is largo room,
which in character partakes about
equally Of junk-shop, storchouso and
museum. Over tho door is sign bear
ing in plain black letters, ENQUIRY or
fcc." Mr.. Perry Jones is the presiding
spirit.
On entering the Office through pri-
vate door one is confronted with the
workshop and museum proper. A talk
with Mr.. Jones brings out somc inter
csting information. 1t becomes appar-
cnt at once that the inquiry Office Is no
place for person with weak nerves. A
package without an address is received.
1t is opened. A cotton ball is exposed
to view, which is folded layer on layer
in the most careful way. In the CENTRE
between two layers saturated with alco-
hol, is found hidcous scorpion from
from the West Indies. Live horned
toads have been received here, rs also
have snakes in heavy glass jars, filled
with alcohol. Live turtles complete the
list OF nerveshattcring things which
tho employees have to dispose
of. Dynamite, carefully packed in cot
ton, powder in TASKS, gun implements
of all kinds, and fishing outfits arc re-
ceived daily Peaceful things are, of
course, plentiful. Samples of every
known fabric to delight the eyes of the
professional shopper cosmetics, bustlcs,
vclvets, silks and woolens, worstcd
flowers, oil paintings plans of houses,
specimens of orc and electric apparatus.
Sadly crushed, but pretty for all that, a
bit OF cdelwciss, direct from its native
Alp, awaits an owner !; crushed, too
but no longer beautiful, lady's bonnet,
for which no doubt tho owner fumcd
and fretted, but it was tho bonnet that
never came.
After the Orcgon's mail was recovered
the supply Of shamrock and green rib
bon in the inquiry office would have sup
piled every son Of Erin in America with
emblems OF the Emerald Isle. Fruits
are often received but thrown away at
the slightest appearance of dacay. 6i&
of animals for the taxidermist and birds
wings for tho millincrs also find their
way into the Office, together with jew
clry, ofttimcs of great value, and notes
and coin. Shoes, clothing and hard
ware are not wanting. A specimen
card of insects, containing all species
native to a certain part of Africa
and addressed to scientist Of promi-
ncnce, has just now been forwarded to
the owner. A prize pumpkin and a
complete set of dental instruments were
reposing side by side among heap Of
papers when tho reporter called, and or
a shelf directly back of tho table, al
phabetically arranged, were newspapers
from all parts of the world.
Iu the book department, books, prin-
cipally foreign, in elegant bindings,
with dust for company, and manuscripts
and even corrected prools-ready fol
the printcr-form an interesting part Of
the collection. Novels in paper cover
are everywhere.
Mr.. Jones says that the system used
in disposing Of the accumulated matter
was copied by every large city in thu
union and inquiries regarding the worl
Of the department are frequent. Since
its establishment, seven years ago, it has
grown to be necessary part of tho 81
gantic postal system in operation in this
city. To this Office all parcels not ad
dressed, or from which part Of tho ad
dress had been obliterated, are sent. Tt
this office are sent also all improperly
packed parcels, and those which th'
postal officers have reason to believe con
tain contraband articles. The bushes;
of the employees in the oflic,
is to put the addresses whcr,
they belong, rcpack the par
cells when necessary, confiscat
the things which have no place in til,
mails, and otherwise remedy the mis-
take caused by the carclcssncss or igno
rance OF the senders. When parcel i
improperly packed or something j
wrong with the address, if the pcrsoI
for whom it is probably intended Cal
be found, crcular is sent to him will
tho request for the name and description
OF the article. II the answer is salts
factory the parcel is forwarded. Il
some cases the person addressed doe
not know the contents of tho package
In that case the name of tho sender i
procured from the person addressed, ant
the parcel reaches its destination. Tw,
men are constantly employed assortin.
the mutilatcd addresses and one kcp
busy recording articles which are await
ing claimants. Besides these there ar
several clerks who do nothing but fill .ou
tho notification blanks aud repack arti
tles for shipment.
Articles Of an indestructiblc charac
Ter arc kept three months and arc thcr
sent to Washington. Fruits, vegetable
or skins are disposed of at short no
iicc.