The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-06
POSTAL SERVICE IN CHINA.
How the Mail is Sent Over That Vast
Empire.
From the NelU York Sun.


From The NetU York Sun.
About the most curious institution in
China is the postal service. 1t includes two
quite distinct systems, one for the govern
ment officials and the other for every one
else. The dispatches for the government
are carried by mounted postmen with toler-
able swiftness. Their carTi4ge and deliv-
cry are under the direct supervision of
the ministry Of war in Pekin. The people
at large are not allowed to send mail bv the
official carriers. They are obliged to trans
act all their postal business through much
slower medium.
In every Chinese city there are several
postothces, which receive and deliver in
their respective districts the mail matter of
the general public. Each guarantees the
safe delivery of everything intrusted to it,
care, and in case of loss of valuable papers
or goods reimburses the sender without de-
lay. The contents Of every package, how
ever, must be exactly declared at the time
OF mailing, as the postage varies with very
trivial variations of value.
The postmen of this branch Of the mail
service walk or ride on asses from station to
station. With some eighty pounds of mail
matter postman covers aoout three miles
an hour. The minute he arrives at the end
OF his route he transfers his burden TO the
shoulders of another postman, who, what
ever the time Of day and whatever the
weather hurries off to deliver it at the next
station.
To keep himself ready for emergencies the
Chinese postman never fuddles his wits by
overeatlng. he always takes very light
meals. Eat himself only seven-tenths
full, i" the Chinese say. He is usually q man
of fine physique and less afraid of ghosts
witches, ETC., than forty-nine out of every
fifty Of his fellow countrymen. In fact, an
applicant for admission to the service is
generally subjected to kind of civil service
examination of his courage in witnstandinp
the horrors of supernatural phenomena. If
he stands the test without quailing and
proves that he has not incurred the
enmity of any bad spirit which might
interfere with him in the discharge
OF his duties. he has taken a long
step toward procuring his appointment
This sigular condition for admission to the
service is universally considered to be quite
proper, for the average Chinaman is 80
afraid of spirits and the dark that the
slightest noise by the wayside at night
would cause him to drop whatever he was
carrying and dart of like a shot TO the
nearest settlement.
An ordinary letter may be sent $50 miles
or more for about Scents. Thirty per cent.
OF the postage is collected in advance from
1uo So1uer. 1 us amount covers the expense
OF transportation, and is a guarantee
against fraud on the part of the sender. The
other 20 per cent. is collected from the re-
ceiver and represents the profit o. the SER
vice.
The postmen often carry very valuable
mails. Traders intrust to them drafts and
silver bullion without hesitation. To pro-
tect the most important mails small guards
of soldiers are often used, or troops of fight
ing civilians who have especially trained
themselves to fight mail robbers. Three,
four or five of these civilians are always
ready to fight at least dozen highwaymen.
The manner in which they prepare
themselves for such uneven combats
is an elaboration of pugilist's training in
punching the bag. From the roof
of the empty shed in which the practice is
taken hang on ropes ten heavy sand-bags.
The man who is learning to be guard
stands in the midst of these bags while his
instructor, on the outside, sets them to
swinging. The man among the bags then
strikes out right and left with his fists for
the purpose CT punching the bags away
from him. As soon as he learns 70 keep all
the bags in motion without letting them
touch him he is pronounced ready to go on
the road to knock out mail robbers.