The Osceola times., 1888-09-22
DEAD-LETTER OFFICE.
How Uncle Sam Deals With Lost
Correspondence.
Interesting Facts Relative to Unclaimed
and Misdirected Letters-How vslu-
able Contents Are Disposed Of
Amusing and Romantic Missives.


Amusing and Romantic Missives.
The Dead-Letter Office OF the United
States is curious study. In 1t some
5000, 600 of letters written by almost as
many different people and failing to
reach their intended destination, were
last year opened. There are score OF
clerks here who are favored among 50,-
10000 inhabitants. for they are allowed
to open letters addressed to people OF
whom they know nothing. There are
some forty ladies here, who, II they be
but half as curious, half as romantic as
the majority of their sex, find their
work very congenial, for it is their duty
TO read the vast amount OF correspon-
dence, although the pleasure is no
doubt lessened by the fact that rule OF
the office forbids any information thus
gained from being divulged.
However, without breaking that rule,
aiew interesting facts relating to these
letters may be safely given. In the firsS
place, the letters go TO what is known
as the opening table. where they are
opened, and all valuables, from tooth
brush or collar-button to a 81, 200 draft
or $40 bill, taken from the ordinary
run OF communications and classified.
Here the clerk has little or no time for
anything but work, as dealing with
1900 or $500 letters in a day, taking
care not TO overlook anything Of value,
keeps one busy. The letters come TO
the clerk in bundles OF 100 each. The
clerk finds out what kind OF letters are
most frequently lost. There are great
many circulars sent here. Anew York
or Philadelphia firm advertising its
goods gets hold OF Cincinnati or
Chicago directory and sends several
thousand circulars TO people whose
names appear there. Many of these
people have moved since the directory
was issued, and consequently the circu-
lars are not delivered.
LETTERS FROM swINDLERs.
Lottery and green-goods circulars
come in by the thousand. Another class
OF letters consists OF those addressed TO
firms or persons whom the law or the
press have found out TO be swinders,
and who leave suddenly for parts un-
known. Many of these letters contain
money ranging from ten cents to 81.
Green-goods men who have made them
selves scarce also come in for their
share OF letters. Nearly all letters ad-
dressed to them contain an acceptance
OF the bargains offered TO unsuspect-
ing hayseeds, together with the original
circular sent out by the sharpers. which,
TO throw an air OF secrecy about their
traSsactions, they ask TO be returned TO
them. An amazing example OF igno-
rance in connection with this business
came TO light here day or two ago.
After corresponding with some country
men for quite IA while the dealer in
green goods had sent genuine 81 bill
to his confidential friend" The bill
was sent as an alleged sample of the
goods made. The dupe's answer to this
letter shows how well the sharper had
played his cards. His letter was evil
IDENTIFY written with the idea OF max
ing the alleged counterfeiter think he
was dealing with an old hand at the
business. He stated that he had ex-
amined the bill sent, and found 1t to be
as nearly perfect as counterfeit money
could possibly be. The letter ended
something like this: Don't desert me.
am pine (evidcntly meant for 'poor)
man. You want TO send me 1000 for
$50. Tell me how TO send it, and by
then / will hav the money"
Another, and a very numerous class
OF letters, consist of unpaid bills, with
''please remit" or IAN In need OF
money" tackled on at the bottom. Let
ters directed TO guests at hotels are also
very plentiful. Watering places,
winter resorts and healthy localities
send in more than their proportion.
For while Los Angeles, CAL, furnish
ed more work for the Office than did
'NiBiiiu. Stuuo III ~
many letters in early spring, while
Atlantic City, Ocean Grove and other
seaside resorts loom up amazingly to-
ward fall.
READING DEAD LETTERS.
To the ladies OF the returning de-
partment-for it is managed almost
solely by ladies-is reserved tho work
OF more private nature. II is their
duty to examine AMI read letters sent
hom the opening table, In order TO get
proper address TO send them to.
Among political and business cores
pondence, or may be sandwiched be-
tween dunning letter and circular
setting forth the advantages Of patent
hay-rake. is delightful little love
story, with just enough uncertainty
ABOUT the real circumstances Of the case
70 leave room for the Imagination OF
the reader to end the tale in a happy,
pathetic or humorous style.
Then, too, there are amusing ss we'll
as romantic letters. Many people adopt
the Complete Letter Writer style In
'hef correspondence, which sounds
very well until they start to tell "all the
muse Here the Letter Writer" fails