Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-13
ODDITIES OF THE MAIL.
QUEER THINGS THAT ARE SEEN
At The INQUIRY OFFICE.

A Museum Filled with Articles confsc.-
ted in Transit by Uncle sans watch
f1i, Postal Emrloyss-royiox With Dy-
namite-Stray Books-The syxser.
On the third floor and west side of the
New York poStoffice building. overlooking
the court and shut out from the noise OF
the street is large room which in char .
acter parrakes about equally Of junkshop.
storehouse and museum. Over the door
is q sign bearing in plain black letters.
Inquiry Office Mr.. Perry Jones in
the presiding spirit He is unusually
courteous and accommodating for man
whose hands are constantly fGll OF CORE
spondenee and who simultaneously an
swers questions on every known subject
On entering the Office through private
door one is confronted with the workshop
and museum proper. A taik with Mr..
Jones brings out some interesting in
formation Ii becomes apparent at once
tha. the inquiry Office is nc place for a
person with weak nerves 4 package
without an address IS received II is
opened. A cotton bail is exposed 10 view.
which is folded layer on layer in the most
careful way. In the center, between two
LAYERS saturated with alcohol, is found q
hideous scorpion from the West Indies.
Live horned toadS have been received
here. as Also have snakes in heavy glass
jars fil.ed with alcohol. Live turtles COM
plete the list Of nerve SCATTERING things
which the employees have to dispose OF
Dynamite carefully packed in cotton, pow
der in TASKS, gun implements of al kinds
and fishing outfits are received daily.
rorlNG WITH Dynamite
One would think that toying with dyna-
mite WAS sufficient 10 cause all sorts of
tremorS and fears 70 aSitate person, but
the examlners have not the haunted look
OF men IL perpetual lear. To hear one
say IN n jolly manner: "Ah, here's an
earthquake, on opening package con
tanning dynamite Is an ordinary thing
Peaceful things are, of course, plentiful
Samples OF every known fabric to delight
the eyes of the professional shopper. COS
Irctics, eorSets. buStles, velveGs, silks and
woolens. worsted flowers, OIL paintings,
plans OF houses, fancy COmsiockian por-
traits, specimens OF ore and electric an
paraIus. Sadly crushed bat pretty for
ali that, a bit OF edelwe!ss. direct from its
native Alp, awaits "a owner: crushed. too.
but no longer beautiful, a lady's bonnet.
for which 10 doubI tho owner fume,t and
fretted, but it was the bonnet that never
came.
Fruits are often received. but thrown
away at the slightest appearance
OF decay. Skins ol animals for the
taxtdermist and birds wings for the MILL
nerS also find their way into the Office.
together with. jewelry, Oft times OF great
value, and notes and coin Shoes cloth
ing and hardware are not wanting. A
specimen card of insects. containing oil
species native 10 certain part of Africa
and addressed to a scientist OF promi-
hence, has just now been forwarded 10
the owner. prize pumpkin and COM
plete set OF dental instruments were re-
posing side by side among a heap OF
papers when the reporter called, and on a
shelf directly back Of the table. alpha
beticahy arranged, were newspapers from
all parts of the world IN the book de-
partment books, principally foreign, in
ELEGANT bindings, with dust for company.
and manuscripts and even corrected
for the printer-iorm an
Interesting part Of the collection. Novels
III paper cover are everywhere.
THE SYSTEM ADOPTED.
Mr.. Jones says that the system used In
disposins OF the accumulated matter WIS
and inquiries regarding the work Of tho
department are frequent. Since its es-
seven years ago, Il has grown
to be a necessary part Of The gigantic
postal system in operation IN this city
To this Office all parcels not addressed. or
from which the part Of the address has
oeen oblterated, are sent. To this Office
are sent also all improperly packed par
GELS. and those which the postal officers
have reason 10 believe contain contraband
ar icles Toe business Of the employees
In the Office is 20 put the addresses where
they belong repack the parcels when nee
essarY. confscate the things which have
no place in the mails, and Otherwise rem
edy the mistake caused by the careless
ness or ignorance OF the senders-
When "A parcel Il improperly packed or
something is wrong with the address. II
the person for whom IL Is probably in
tended can be found a circular is sent 10
him with the request for the name and
description of the article. II the answer
is satisfactory the parcel is forwarded
In some cases the person addressed does
nor know ths contents Of the package,
which frequently happens around Christ
mas when presents are the fashion In
that case the name OF the sender il pro
cured from the person addressed. and tho
parcel reaches it's destination. New York
Commercial Advertiser.