Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19
CHRISTIANS GIFTS IN THE MAIL.
Postmaster Sherwood Has Some Words of
Advice for Persons Sending Packages.

Postmaster Sherwood Has Some Words of
Advice for Persons Sending Packages.
Whatever leisure Christmas may bring to
others, it only adds TO the work Of the city
post Office employees. From this time until
Christmas day the mails Will be loaded down with
Christmas souvenirs and gifts. The post Office
officials make every effort TO insure the prompt
delivery of par,'tJ intrusted to their care, but
o. Christmas time, as at other seasons, much
is apt to 60 astray on account of the Careless
ness Of the senders Postmaster Sherwood
grew quite serious over the matter when talk
ing with STAR reporter the other day. OF
81 the things one is apt to send through the
mails the one he ia most anxious TO have reach
its destination promptly is a Christmas pres
emit. But the post office officials know that me
and women are just as careless about writing
addresses at Christmas time as at any other
time
There are some things which The SrAa
ought to tell the people at this time" said Mt.
Sherwood IAN merchandise and printed
matter should bear not only the proper address
Of the person for whom it is intended, but
should have written also on the wrapper in the
upper left-hand corner the name or address of
the person BY whom il was sent That would
enable the Office. in case the package was held
up for any purpose. to return Il TO the sender.
A package should be securely wrapped and
contains any written or unavailable matter. II
person desires to seal printed matter CT mer-
chandise he can do SO, but In that case will
have to pay letter postage Printed matter or
third-class matter must not have any written
communication. II il does it subjects it to let
Ter postage and it will be held up in the Office
snd returned to the persop sending it, pro-
yited his address Is given so We can ind him,
otherwise the matter will be turned in to the
dead letter Office. A person mailing such mat
Ter containing writing Is liable, under the regu-
lAtions, 70 nne.
"A great many packages purchased at stores
nave only thin paper wrapping not suitable
for mailing Often packages thus insecurity
wrapped are broken open and do not reach
which they are wrapped Persons mailing
Christmas goods to go outside OF the city should
purchase them and mail them early as possi-
Bile In order 10 give the Office and the railway
postal clerks chance to get them to their
destination IN time. i: should be remembered
That rothing bu: bona fide samples of mer-
inandlse can be sent to foreign countries. II
merchandise for foreign places is sealed it will
% stamped liable to customs duties" The
act Is that at Christmas time a great deal of
matter comes into this offiee-gifts from for
ngn lanos- IL is al stamped at the New York
>fnce as liable 70 customs duties. 1t has to be
opened here in the presence of the addressee
snd custom house officer. The point is not
o mail anything unless bona fde samples.
Anything going 20 other countries is liable to
customs duties
There are q few points that would like 70
impress on people Be sure that the address ID
written legibly and correctly, be sure tina. the
iackage ~ securely tied and tina. the amount O!
'ostsge Is correct Then il the package is
iailed in time the post ONCE viii see that it il
shversd promptly to the right person"