Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06

was evidently a college sophomore who
wanted to show that he had learned hi'
Greek alphabet and be addressed his lady
love in Greek. Some letters are sent with
the evident intention of puZzling the Dead
Letter clerks, and one was received last
week so written that it looked like perfect
scrawl. The bright lady who handled il
whipped looking glass out of her pocket
and in this it read as plain as copperplate.
The letters of the Chinese IN this country
are continually coming to the Dead Letter
Office.
You would think that person sending
money in a letter would be very careful
about addressing it. But this does not seem
to be the case, for last year S25, 900 in cash
was found in dead letters and returned to the
owners, and nearly S1,5OO,OO in notes.
checks and money orders were misdirected.
In addition to this there was S12, 900 worth
of money and merchandise that could not
be returned.
1t was IN the Postofice Department that
the rule of allowing clerks to marry was
first permitted. Under the old spoils sys-
tenn it was not thought right that family
should have more than one representative in
the Government departments at Washing
ton, and in the case a young lady fell in
love with the 81 200 man working at her
side, she was expected to give up her 81 900
or more and leave the Office for love in a
cottage.
GALLANT MR.. Villas:
While Mr.. Villas was Postmaster General
a young lady came to him and said she
wanted to get married to fellow clerk, but
she did not want to lose her place. He very
gallantly replied that he saw no reason why
she should not do as good work for Uncle
Il -,
ried myself" said he, "and don't believe
that it impairs my work. If you want to
enter into the bonds of matrimony, bv all
means do so, and will see that you are re-
tained."
Postmaster General Villas not only said
this, but he kept the maiden, and it came to
be known that other clerks might marry if
they would, and the rule is now one Of the
unwritten laws OF the Postofice Depart
ment.
The working hours of postofice clerks are
from 9 A. NJ. to 4 P. NJ. and there is half
hour or so given ior luncheon at noon. Most
of the ladies bring their lunches with them
and piece these out with cup of hot coffee
or tea from the restaurant. In the Pension
Office, and l suppose the same holds good in
the Postofice Department, some of the ladies
have little alcohol lamps which they place
heat some hot water with which they make
tea. A few of the ladies go out OF the de-
parUment tor their luncheons and the regu-
lar luncheon for the half OF Washington is
bought for 10 cents. We have set ot dairy
luncheon rooms here which are different
from those of any other city. They furnish
only coffee, milk, sandwiches and pie. You
must stand up to eat your lunch.
THE STREETS AT 4 O'CLOCK.
The streets of Washington are always
crowded at o'clock in the afternoon. At
this time the great Government departments
dismiss something like 20, 900 clerks and a
stream of all sorts of humanity pours forth
from the cave-like entrances of the
Treasury, and these so Postofice ladies
trot down the steps OF the big stone build
ing and mix with the crowds which rush
forth from the great Parthenon-like Patent
Office across the way
If you will now re-enter the great build
ing you will fud different class of work
going on. The scrubbers and the cleaners
have taken it in hand, and scores OF brocms
and mops are moving over the marble floors.
These women are paid by the day. There
are 60 women who do nothing but repair
mailbags, and these sew away here on heavy
canvas for S45 month working almost
steadily from 8 A. M. to P. NJ.
Each land has its own mail sacks, and the
sacks of the English are as black as a hearse.
All lof the French sacks have binding Of
leather about their tops, and the German
sacks have to be patched with leather.
MISS GRUNDY, JR.