The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-04-12

Washington Correspondence Boston Ira
script.

Washington Correspondence Boston Tran
script.
Among the many places OF interest
to be visited in Washington, perhaps
there is no other that is SO absorbing
ly interesting to the great mass OF
visitors as the Dead Letter Office and
the museum connected withit. There
is nothing to be seen here, but every
one is capable of understanding and
appreciating. Just inside the large
hall space is rallied Off, where visitors
may stand and observe at their leisure
the work that is going on SO busily.
Over $4,000 letters day to be ex-
amined, assorted and disposed OF!
What large corps of clerks is needed
for the work, and how quickly, skill
fully and mechanically it goes on! In
the first room the letters are opened
| and assorted those cont ntaining money or
articles of value going one way and the
others going another. Asimple motion
Sits open an envelope with unerring
| precision. The letter is withdrawn,
unfolded, folded, replaced. The next
| letter the same. How fast the heaps
of the examined letters grow, but the
work does not end, for the supply is
never exhausted, but is constantly re-
plenished as the letters are passed on.
Here, as in many other departments,
the work is several days Or weeks be-
hind time, and fresh appropriations
are needed for more workers.
The opened letters containing in
oil m 40
senders when practica bic, otherwise
they are recorded and filed away, and
may be reclaimed at any time. Other
letters are not recorded. They are re-
turned to the writer's, if possible, and
when the writer's cannot be found, the
letters are destroyed. In the year
1884, more than Il, 900 letters con-
tanned money, amounting to nearly
$4,000. Some 10000 letters con-
tanned drafts, checks, money orders,
ETC., to the value of more than ST.
100000. Some idea of the growth of
the postal service ofthe United States
for century may be formed, when we
consider in this connection the state
ment, quoted from postal report in
17S8, that 1865 valuable letters have
accumulated in the department since
1777." Many thousand letters arere-
ceived annually containing photo
graphs, postage stamps and articles
of merchandise. Thousands OF letters
are deposited yearly in the Post Of
flee bearing no superscription what
ever, and all such of course are for
warded to the Dead Letter Office for
examination Easter cards and
Christmas cards are received by the
gross. These are distributed once a
month among the children in hospi-
tails. All reading matter received, pa
pers and magazines are distributed
| among adults in hospitals.
Interesting as is the work that is be-
ing carried on in the Dead Letter Office,
the museum of articles collected there
is infinit ely more so. An inconceiva-
BILE variety of interesting objects,
beautiful, horrible, attractive, dis
gusting amusing, pathetic, valuable
and worthless, are arranged in the glass
cases. Some nice jewelry is displayed,
brooches, lockets, a watch and chain,
the latest addition being a fine gold
| headed cane, brought III the very day
of our visit. There are a number of
pretty rings, slender and dainty cir
cletsl How many an unwritten rom
ance may they not have represented
Were they betrothal rings, long looked
for with vain expectancy and hope de-
ferred? Did the senders wait for a
response, till the ardor that prompted
the gift grew cold? Who can tell?
Only the sibyls, sworn to secrecy, who
have perused the messages accompany.
ing the gifts.