Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-22
A REIGN OF SILENCE.
An Order by Postmaster Ross Causes
CONSERVATION At the Post Once.

OF the many things which attracted Post
master Ross attention while he was inspecting
the Boston post once nothing chung more
tenaciously to his memory than the extraordi-
nary silence which characterized the move
ments and work Of the employees in that great
establishment Postmaster Corse told him
that he found that when the sortsrs and
stampers were permitted to taik they neglected
their work, and a. he did not want to make any
distinction in the rules for the conduct Of the
oface he had enjoined upon all absolute silence
while they we're engaged in their daily toll.
ALI the way back from Beantown Mr.. Ross
thought about the silent scheme IS applied TO
the Washington Office, and the more he thought
about il the more was he convinced that II was
the one thing needful TO make the system
perfect
10 BH xNroRcxD HERE.
When he arrived here he at once consulted
with one or two Of his assistants, and - . re-
suit there win be no more conversation dur
ing working hours In that heretofore delight
fully eloquent place-the city post Office. What
hardships this win work but few Of those out
side Of the Office can even imagine. Conster-
nation-siient consternation-reigns supreme
and . hundred tongues are speechless, not 90
much from indignation a. from necessity. A
fishing club had only recently been organized
in the Office and now the bottom has been
knocked out Of it, for every one knows that
there is not half as much fun In catching the
hsh - there 10 in telling the stories.
NOT ABSOLUTE SILENCE.
Mr.. Ross says he is not going to be - severe
on his men ~ the Boston authorities are upon
theirs; he will not command absolute silence,
but will simply request the officers In charge
OF the various divisions to report to him the
names OF those employees who indulge in unnec-
been no pleasanter place in Washington than
the post Office. An hours chat with the post
master was an intellectual feast not to be
sneezsd at, and no lover Of a good story could
stay away from Capt Sherwoods desk for more
than q week ct q time. Cashier Tulloch has
always been fountain Of gems Of thought: but
now be and everybody else in the gloomy building
on Louisiana avenue 10 mute as q clam at low
water. Some Of the more sturdy minded of the
employees regard the new order as unconstitu-
tional. and, outside Of the Office, Of course talk
OF testing the matter in the courts. From time
immemorial, they say. the post Office has always
been place for those who desire it to
exchange condolences and talk politics. and
they ask, is 1t fair that these pleasant
customs, which have come down from
generations long dead, should be swept away in
an instant2 The advances Of q false civil
cation have deprived this city Of the grocery
store attachment which so often accompanies
the post Office in the more highly favored rural
regions. but this, the grumblers claim, cannot
be advanced 90 reason why ell conversation
save that of . business nature should cease.
Not SO very long ago an academy of design Of
fered substantial prize to the artist who
should present the most natural and character
istic statue representing Silence" There were
numerous responses and the reward went TO an
ingenious young sculptor from Chicago, whose
model was that of dog watching a rat hole.
The dog is out Of date now. His place has been
taken by the figure of an employe in the city
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