St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-09-22
DEAD-LETTER OFFICE.
How Uncle Sam Deals With Lost
Correspondence.
Interesting Facts Relative to Unclaimed
ana Misdirected Letters-How vaiu-
aoie Contents Are Disposed Of
Amusing and Romantic Missives.

Amusing and Romantic Missiyes,
The Dead-Letter Office of the United
States is curious study. In it some
5000, 900 of letters written by almost as
many different people and failing to
reach their intended destination, were
last year opened. There are a score OF
clerks here who are favored among So
100000 inhabitants, for they are allowed
to open letters addressed to people OF
whom they know nothing. There are
some forty ladies here, who, if they be
but half as curious, half as romantic as
the majority of their sex, find their
work very congenial, for 1t 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.
few interesting facts relating to these
Letters may be safely given. In the firss
piece, 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 500 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
1000 or $500 letters in 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 a great
many circulars sent here. Anew York
or Philadelphia firm advertising its
goods gets hold of a 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 net delivered.
LETTERS FROM swMDLERs.
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 swfndlers,
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
'clrcular sent out by the sharpers, which,
20 throw an air of secrecy about their
transactions, 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 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 oldgAand at the
business. He stated that ss ss..sad ex-
amined the bill sent, and fas has 70 be
as nearly perfect as countastitute fdrt
could possibly be. Thefd, to the Sena'
l;l,a +h;s. ..Ianake its appea
am pine evidently m@ar ~ accentan
man. fou want to sendday-an ahle eu
ESQ. Tell me how to bin to herecsiv,
then will hav the mort majority Of t
Another, and a very y
OF letters, consist of unH =
a please remit or ON ISLANDER.
money tackled on at Il
tiers directed to guests feW Orleans, on L
very plentiful. w the gi>,sd Jury,
winter resorts and ader as follsvs:
send in more thar 10 state to youe,au
For while Los AngdIR GO CERTAIN 'ilL s gsne
ed more work for tt uon ~ a a,,.,,t,nns q
Philadelphia FloriSo To- lis of ths gene
many letters in d. promulgated july
City, Oceaie SANDER or dela,nas
-, sisdempanor. This act
= = : As'ai. applicable To matters
READING DE{le date of its prOmul
To the ladies q provides that WI
,artment-for it prouaua ,f e 49,, s .s,st
'olely by ladies--is eush nsrson tie coz
i more privatssminal or wraaieir
luty to examine an9 use any wafd sent
,.,,,, AZ, o,,o,,;,.. 4ssnn of good /
proper address III. ;,,.,, ~ fam n
among political an4aAs. orgss cores
'ondence, Or may be aidwiched be- :
ween 8 dunning letteF and circular
citing forth the advantages OF a patent
lay-rake, is o delightful little love
tory, with just enough uncertainty
bout the real circumstances of the case !.
D leave room for the Imagination Of :.
he reader to end the tale in a happy. !,
athletic or humorous style. :
Then, too, there are amusing as well :
5 romantic letters. Many people adopt
ne Complete Letter Writer style in
aeir correspondence, which sounds p