The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-04-03
AN EPISTOLARY MORGUE,
ODDITIES OF THE DEAD LETTER
OFFICE AT WASHINGTON.

.
and Anatomical Fragments
Awaiting Identification.
There is no silent horror, but only a
living interest, upon entering the Dead
Letter Office at Washington.
Twenty thousand letters received
here daily"
This was the information given to a
Detroit Free Press representative by the
bright and courteous lady who presides
over the curiosity room. ''And nearly
one-half of them can never be sent on
or back, because of the illegibility of
the address or some other cause"
The Enclosures are kept two years,
then, If still unclaimed, are sold at auc-.
tion. The room is lined with cases, in
which the curiosities are very art;stically y
arranged.
Here was freman's AK. Improper
weight and sharp instrument not
properly protected were the reasons for
its detention. There were number of
revolvers arranged on the back of the
case. 1t is contrary to law to send fire.
arms through the mail
"Ohl here is a human ear" one re-
marked, wondering at the singular
token.
"les, that came in a newspaper. We
do not know by whom it was sent. Here
is an asp, and that is tarantula-both
quite startling creatures to find upon
opening box. They both came through
alive" said the attendant, 'tand that is
against the law, you know. We always
have live curiosities chloroformed and
preserved in liquor. We are quite care
full in opening packages, for we never
know what sort of pets we are gong to
find.
"Here are some horned toads. l have
had tree-toads for pets for months at a
time"
''Snakesl" exclaimed one of our party,
pointing toward some large glass cans.
"Did they come through alive"
"les, indeed"
En- passant, it is very amusing to hear
Washlnstonians say "Yes, indeed" with
the emphasis on Eyes," and the 'indeed"
sliding along as though the expression
were one of the pleasures of life.
''Yes, indeed, she answered. "There
were sixteen of them, sent from Texas
en- route for Heidelburg, for scientific
purposes. They were in perforated tin
cans, were detected and sent here. A
boy brought the can in bag, but one
snake got away. A lady at the chiefs
desk, three days after, felt something
about her feet. Looking down, there
was the snake. He had been in one of
the drawers of the chiefs desk for those
three days. Was she frightenedY Well,
there are few things that we ladies dis
like more than snakes, you know"
'Here is scalpp
''Ies; it is the scalp of o young
Indian girl about eighteen or twenty
years old. We were told so by an ex-
pert in such things-the hair fine and
black and straight you see, prepared
with care to be fastened in the belt.
''Here are some balls of opium. You
notice they were disguised in a covering
of candy. And here is beautiful large
etching, exquisitely done. 1t seems a
pity that It should not have reached its
destination, but we could not help it.''
she stepped to the desk, and took
from one of the drawers a book, open
ing it for our inspection. In it were
pasted the addressed sides of envelopes.
Some of these addresses indicated close
acquaintance with Photographic spell
ing, as ''Ti III, Ca" was spelled flight
], Ga.," and Springerville, Arizona" ="
was spelled "Spengel Bill, Arizona"
Again, Others were of poetical turn,
and fame doubtless awaits the composers
with open arms. Here are four of them;
''Now come. locomotive, and get up your
steam,
And speed me away Ger valley and stream,
And carry me safely to John James, State
of Illinois,
And tell him have twins, and both of them
boys"
''Carry this letter over valley and rid ,es,
And deliver safely to A V. Hedges"
POSTMASTER run with speedy feet
To 1911 North Third street,
Care of Danier Winforth,
For Frederick Aranouth.n
ITO Jack Smith, the web-foot scrub,
To whom this letter wants to go,
Is cutting cordwood for his grub,
In Bosie City, Idaho.n