The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-20
FACES IN THE WINDOW.
The Tribulations of a PostOffice GeneT
DaIfverv Clark

The Tribulations of a PostOffice General
Delivery Clerk.
Saturday afternoon reporter was pass
ing through the Custom house corridors as
peculiar-looking individual stopped before
q window of the general delivery to ask for
mail, says the Memphis Appeal. After the
individual had passed on the reporter in
quired Of Clerk G. w. Smith what sort Of
patrons received their mail at the general
delivery.
"All kinds" he answered, 'all nationali-
ties, and people in every walk Of life. There
is one peculiarly, too, with most OF them,
and that Is they leave all politenesS outside
the doors. IL they are expecting mail, and
there is none here, we are accused OF With
holding it, and that, too, IN no modest terms
1t sometimes happens that stranger con-
ing TO the city expects mail and comes to the
office the first thing, probably few hours
before his expected mail arrives. lie grows
interested and fOrgets about the mail Tor
several days, and when he comes back and
sees that his letter was received on the day
he was previously here, he is ready to asSail
US and fay US alive if he could. 1t is vain
to tell him his letter arrived after he had
called"
How about Chinese letters? How do
yOu know which of the CeleStials it belongs
TOP"
"We have no trouble with the Chinese
letters. They are addressed, as a rule, very
plain"
But are they not addressed in Chinese.
chsracters?"
mo; they are addressed in common En-
glish, with the name and the city, State and
United States of America. The Arab letters
are the worst. When letter comes here
with a snbperScription that looks as though
a fly had dropped in the ink and crawled
over the enYelopeiWe know 1t is from some
son of Arabia"
"Do you have trouble about peoples
names?
Eyes. Suppose Jones came for his
mail. If we were not personally acquainted
we would likely inquire, What JOuesP
'J-o-n-e-s, Jones' he is liable to spell with
great dignity, and it is task TO make him
understand that there are more JoneSeS
than there were plaques Of Egypt. There Is
neighbOrhood OF Smiths out here, ana
about Saturday morning great tall fellow
comes in, Anything for the Smiths? We
have learned which particular family he
means, SO we look with out inquiriDg which
one. This morning ne came in as usual,
Anything for the Smiths? After looking.
1 answered: No; nothing this m0TnlngP
"' Anything for Joe Smith|
mo, nothing
IS Anything for Sallie Ann Smith?
enc
"'Anything for Pamela2'
And so he, kept on through the whole
family"
Are those who get mail here non-resi-
dents OF Memphis or strangers
mot by any means. There are people
who have their mail delivered at every de-
livery, and then come here for some Of their
letters"
Here Mr. Smith allowed loak to fit
across his countenance that indicated that
that department of the POstoffice also had
Its secrets that would make interesting read
ing matter if spread before the unsuSpect-
ing and always suspicious public.
1--WE don't have as easy time as many
might suppose. 1t is The same every day
ali kinds Of people and all sorts of questions
to be answered"
Here modest, low-voced lady in black
came TO the opposite window, and the re-
porter withdrew.