The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-05
1T WAS PAINFUL.
Warning to Bachelor POstmasters Not to
Keep Too Mum.

Warning to Bachelor POstmasters Not ia
Keep Too Mum.
An incident recently occurred in one Of
the towns in Seneca county, this State, in
vOlving a Republican postmaster in serious
embarrassment, says the New York Times
| As the postmaster, though bachelor, Ia.
| generally been of exemplary habits, pillar
| i'm two churches, and one Of Congressman
Floods most active workers, the incident
has, as the local paper sometimes remark,
| of other sad events, least gloom over the
| entire community"
Owing to the lack Of safe in his Office
| this postmaster has been in the habit O
| taking his money and stamps home witt
him every night in a small satchel. Thi;
| satchel he took 20 his bedroom and usually
placed under his pillow. But one night he
neglected TO put the satchel in its usua
place, merely dropping it near the door az
| he entered his bedroom. That same night
| the nurse girl employed by another bOardel
| in the house fOnnd it necessary TO carry the
child in her charge to its mothers room. In
passing through the unlighted hall she mis-
took the door and entered the bedroom OF
the postmaster.
The yigilant official instantly awakened
with the belief that there was a burglar in
| the room, and reached under the pillow fOl
his satcbel. Not finding il, the thought
crossed his mind that the burglar had
already secured it, and he bounded out OF
bed and seized the nurse girl, who was
cropping about in the darkness. He was
lust getting his grip on her throat when she
shrieked aud dropped the child, which he
rather by involuntary impulse than delib-
crate intent, saved from wreck by catching
hold of its clothing. The girl, finding her
self released, ran out of the room and into
her own, where she locked the door and
tainted.
The child was by this time screaming ter
rife screams, and the dazed postmaster
was trying TO think whether 10 drop the
soft, moist thing into the washOasin or
throw il out of the window, when its father
and mother entered the room with lighted
candles. The mother rushed upon the post
master crying, ''Give me my baby" and,
having rescued it, left the room. The infil-
rated father demanded, "What have you
been doing with my childT" and began to
jerk the postmaster around in way that
might be called "wiping the floor with
him."
Ii is probable that the postmaster was AT
that moment nearer 10 insanity than men
often are who escape II, Tut the rough treat
ment he received saved MIN. Ii is known
that the mind works rapidly in the pres
ence of great danger, and il seems that by
the time the postmaster's legs had whacked
against the bed-post and washstand; had
upse, a rocking chair, smashed a mirror,
aud sent the hau-brush, periumery bottles,
and collar box on the dressing case flying
about i'm disorder, his mind had got back TO
the lost satchel which hebelieyed the burg
lar had captured. The thought neryed him
for mighty effort, and graphing with his
now exhausted assailant he flung HIM on
his back in a corner Of the room. Then he
yelled s,Robbers," and began 10 search for
his satchel. lie had just foundit and was
preparing 10 meet another assault from the
outraged parent when several other male
boarders in the house, who had been arous-
ed by the disturbance, entered the room and
called a halt on the proceedings.
II required great deal Of heated talk to
explain matters, and it is probable that the
explanation never would have been salts
factorily made had not the door of the nurse
girls room been broken in and the girl re-
quired TO tell how she came 10 part with the
child. Even then half the people who
heard this story did not underestimate, and,
the weekly paper published in the town
having consented through friendship for the
postmaster 10 refrain from mentioning the
affair, the public have been left to draw
very erroneous differences. Some Of the
neighbors suppose the postmaster TO be
crazy, while others contend that even on the
that he was walking in his
sleep ii was very queer that be should steal
an infant out Of its cradle 10 torment il.
But fortunately the examination Of the
postoffice by the Government inspector,
which speedily followed resulted in finding
its finances in good condition.
II is 10 be hoped that the publication in
The Times Of correct version Of the incl |
ient will do sopething 20 clear the reputa- |
lion OF the postmaster among his neighbors, |
and that mothers OF families will no longer |
inject 10 buying p0stage-stamps OF him. |
But he should be warned that keeping ex-
'iting news from the local press usually