The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-26
THE posToFFIoE musEnnr

Chief Clerk Cooley's room in the post
office department looks a good deal like
n museum to-day, and very attractive
at that. For some time past the depart.
ment has been endeavOring to interest
the postofiice authorities of other nations
IN the department museum, and up to
this date the efforts have, in the main.
been gratifyingly successful. Latest
among the additions to the collection.
which some day must attract public at
tention, are contributions from India and
Canada.
There is good deal of novelty in the
Asiatic aggregation. Instead of sending
samples OF I'M forms and of the minor
machinery of the service the officials for.
warded miniature model figures clad in
regulation garb. These figures are prob
ably as perfect in their finish as the hand
of man could make them, anatomy and
expression being beyond praise, while
minor details are finished to the last de-
degree. On the mantel are five models.
The ilrst is that of a head postman; his
head Is covered by red and blue tur-
ban, his feet are bare and the graceful
monotony of his white garb is relieved
with red sash over the right shoulder.
Alongside and bending over a table is a
stamper, clad in a plain blue uniform
and round cap, like in shape unto the
fatigue cap worn by the British artillery
and cavalry. The position OF the stamp
er, who is at work, is very natural. Tie
third figure is thatOf a cOachman-driyer
OF city mail wagon-and he is SYM
phony in brown. Next to him is the al
most naked figure of Email runner"
The single garment of the fleet-footed
HindoO is n breech cloth, around which
which is leather belt with Email run
ner'' on its buckle. To protect himself
from thieyish men and hungry wi d
beasts the runner carries a bamboo
shafted spear, across which the mail BAG 8
are slnng. Another model shows the
two principal features in the 'scamel
post'-a man and a camel The former
almost nude, is perched on the cameps
hump with the mail bag Immediately be-
mind him. An interesting representa-
ton, damaged considerably in transit. is
that of runner crossing a river. This
he is doing on raft made of four earth
ell pots. The glass which covered the
painted river is broken and portions of
the muddy banks have been Clipped off.
The damages will all be repaired before
the models are placed in the museum.
Very clearly constructed is the minia-
ture Tonga" a native conveyance in
which mails and passengers are hauled
by man power.
They have postoffices in India. There
is nothing i'll the United States that can
INTELLECTUALLY equal the offices at Cal
cutta and Madras. Photographs of these
and of the smaller office at Bangalore are
portions of the exhibit. When Washing
ton has such a postoilice has such pos. =
office as building as the people of Cal
cutta have then Capt. Sherwood will
have occasion to rejoice and be exceed
ingly glad,
Canada's contribution is very practi-
cal and very valuable. Its most striking
feature is a gorgeously red letter-box,
with projecting and rather ungraceful
appearing mouth. When the box is
emptied by collector he moves a wheel
and displays for public information
card on which is printed the time of the
next collection.
The uniforms are much more pro-
nouncod than the gray clothing common
to letter carriers in this country. There
are two suits, that for summer being of
blue serge. Each coat collar is upright
and is faced with scarlet. On each side
is the monogram, &c. p. o." and near
it is the carriers personal number.
There is scarlet cord on the coat edges
and on the sleeves, while the trousers
are adorned with nauaw scarlet stripes
down the outer seams. In moderate
weather an awkward looking cap is worn;
cap that has a straight leather visor
and a broad scarlet band On its front
is the inevitable &c. p. o." When the
weather is extremely warm tire carriers
wear white helmets. similar to the regu
lation army summer helmet. One of
these is in the collection. Should it be
rainy fine black macintosh is worn
and short leather leggings are put on to
protect the ankles. The winter suit is
dark blue in color and trimmed just as is
the summer outfit, but the material is
heavy. The oveTcOat is gray and it close
ly resembles the ovcrcoat issued to
scouts of the United States army. A
chamOis vest, lined with red flannel, is
issued for winter wear, and so are heavy
astrakan vests and cOllarettcs. An oil
skin cape, warmly lined, completes the
outfit.
Samples of Canadian mail bags and
pouches of all sorts and sizes, with
stamping mechanism and other matters
of technical interests came with the
CLOTHING - IIuSbiD0fOn Star