Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29

set out, on the rounds, with an intelligent
carrier The route selected embraced a
highly fashionable, and decidedly unfash-
ionable quarter of the town. There was no
special line between these two quarters but
the one faded imperceptibly into the other
as darkness into night.
First the aristocratic streets were covered.
There was no emotion to be found there;
everything was conducted on the principle
which puts grief away in the vest pocket
until it can be INDUCED in without shock
ing society. A few of the idiosyncrases of
the propr;etors, however, could be noticed
from the manner in which they wished their
letters delivered. Everybody had special
way, and woe to the luckless carrier who
dares to disobey the command of the house
holder in this respect One gentleman pro-
vides slot in his door; another hangs
letter box in the outer hall. Others wish
their letters pushed under their doors;
others again like them thrown over through
the transom. In some houses it is the Gus
tom for the carrier to descend the basement
steps and tap at the windows till someone
comes to take the letters. The postofice
rule requires a wait of 80 seconds, but very
often this limit has to be exceeded On
rainy day, waiting in the area is ANYTHING
but agreeable, for the water from the caves
pours down ones back in little playful run
lets, and often there comes a small Niagara,
which knocks off ones cap and saturates the
letters.
In some of these houses the people offered
tea and coffee to the carrier, but alack, he
had no leisure Tor these creature comforts
Beer and whisky are often proffered him,
but the postal authorities strictly forbid the
use of drink, even on the coldest and wettest
days. Though his very heart soak in the
water, though his limbs be numb with cold,
the carrier must not drink any stimulant
whatsoever. The day was rainy, so one
pretty maiden wanted the postman to bor-
row her umbrella. He was obliged to re-
fuse. Haven't hands enough for it, miss.
he said, and verify he had not. One arm
was occupied in embracing his mail, the
other in Tending of the virulent attacks of
other umbrellas, which came hurrying up
the street, sweeping off hats, and poking out
eyes on their way.
SHE WROTE FOR THE PAPERS.
Two or three gentlemen met the carrier in
mid-street and asked for their letters. 1t
must require long practice to enable man
TO recollect, precisely, everyone for whom
he has a communication, yet 1t is seldom
that the carrier makes a mistake. At first
they feel a little awkward when thus sud-
denly accosted. but they quickly get used to
IT Another thing, hard to remember in the
fashionable quarter, is what particular
,,nnno ladies wish their billets-doux held
over for personal delivery. A fair creature
meets the carrier, quite by accident of
conrse 1oTu at the corner, back of her home. She
assumes an expression of countenance, al
most Machiavellian in its capability to de-
ceiye. % and SAYS: "Oh, Mr.. Carrier, 1 am
writinc for the newspapers on the sly, and
T don'f want NV folks to know. Will you
please keep sll my letters till you meet me
In persou. Don't give them to anyone else"
The carrier agrees, snd quite host of