The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-26
THEY RIP Things OPEN
At the POstoffice. Even If They
are Dainty Presents,
ORDER TO ASCERTAIN
Whether Uncle Sam Is Being cheat-
ed Ont of Postage-A Pointer
for Those Who Send Notes
With Christmas Gins.

what fools these mortals be-" re-
marked Ralph Whitehead, superlntend-
emit OF Carriers, at the Postofice last
night; "some Of them, especially"
chimed in Jack Cowl, the good.natured
Superintendent Of Mails, Both these
men were busy cutting the wrappings
from Christmas packages when these re-
marks were made, and the fact that peo'
pie will try to evade the postal require,
ments and send written messages in
packages mailed as merchandise, was
the cause Of the remarks,
Mr., Whitehead had Just slashed the
wrapper from a beautiful paper box,
which had been tied up with fancy silk
cords, aud was proceeding to examine
the contents. Inside the box was an
elegant silyer-mounted plush toilet case,
and inside OF II celluloid toilet articles,
with silver trimmings. Alter opening
it and lifting the dainty hair brush from
It's place to see II q note had been hid
den beneath, Mr.. Whitehead said ;
"Now that's funny. That package has all
the outward appearance Of fraudulent
mailing, and II there's no letter In II, my
experience goes for naught"
dNo false bottom or drawers In the
thingH" asked Cowl.
"Nary one" replied Whitehead,
"Lemme look at her, said Cowl,
reaching for the box, and at the same
time lifting the hand mirror from Its soft
satin cushion in the lid. HERE'S your
letter" said Cowl, and sure enough out
from behind the mirror fell a sheet OF
notepaper, folded to the size OF the open
Ing.
The letter was read and found to be a
message OF endearment from the sender;
the box was r%epacked, and thirty'nine
cents extra postage charged against the
recipient. II had o special delivery
stamp attached, and weighing thirty.
nine ounces cost the sender iorty.nine
cents, For the little note, which could
have been sent for two cents the reCi-
pient had to pay thirty.nine cents more.
Mr.. Whitehead went on to explain
that all packages received at the Post
office must be opened and their contents
examined to see II there isanything con.
tanned which will make the package
liable to irst-Class letter postage. Dur
ing the past two days the boys have
opened thousands Of packages, and have
found enough extra postage due TO use
up about $50 worth OF due stamps"
In reply to a question concerning the
number OF Christmas packages sent this
year compared with last, Mr.. Whitehead
explained that there IL no u In the
Office now who was there last Christ
mas, and tho books do not yet show the
number Of packages for this year. The
Christmas business has been immense,
however, and no less than two tons oil
such goods have been seut.
The Christmas card Is going out oil
style rapidly, and this year but very few
Of them have been sent through the
mails. These Christmas cards have been
a source Of much annoyance 10 the pos
tai service men, and they arc much
pleased to see the reform In TASTE" as
they choose TO call 1t.
While the reporter was in the office
the request was made that hO instruct
people In the matter Of mailing letters
10 Portland Station, Jefferson county,
Ohio. The postoiiCe name Of this little
towu, a few miles above here on the
Cleveland 4 Pittsburgh railroad, is Port
land Station, Jefferson County, Ohio,
while Portland is located In Meigs coun.
", Ohio. Letters to go to Portland Sta.
ton must be SO addressed, and not
"Portland.p