Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-12-23
The Christmas Season.

The Christmas Season.
The mails at this season of the year
are crowded with gifts incident to the
Christmas season. They grow larger
and larger each day, as Christmas draws
nearer. The increase in volume is
noticeable everywhere. Not so evident
is it in the local Office, for persons send
ing presents usually time them to ar
rive at their destination either on
Christmas day, or the day previous.
But the through mails each way con-
tinue to grow more and more cumber-
some.
And after Christmas has passed, there
are complaints innumerable over the
damaged condition of articles trans
mitted by mail. And it is to the end
that this may be avoided that h few sug-
gestions are made to the residents of
Bismarck and vicinity, in the hope that
they may do som good in this direction.
If the article which you wish to send
is fragile, encase it loosely in q light
paste board box, snd tie it up with two
or three strands of ordinary thread.
Then mark it "handle with care" The
postal clerk will be sure to handle it
with soft gloves, and when he turns it
over to the postmaster, he will take him
aside, and whisper in melo.dramatic
tones that there is a parcel in the pouch
which must be handled with care. The
postmaster will carry it to the office on
a pillow, and when it is at last delivered,
you may be sure 1t will be broken into
several pieces. The proper thing then
is to swear in loud, rude tones, and rail
against the carelessness of the depart
ment. This is far preferable to doing
the article up safely and securely in the
first place.
It is the approved method adopted by
persons who do a large mail business,
to tie up a parcel, and then write the ad-
dress upon a tag, and attach it to the
package. Should the wee tag become
detached, it will be a pleasant little
diversion for the postal clerk to find out
the destination of the package. The
government will send out a special
agent to look itup, and when your bundle
fails to arrive, 1t will give you another
opportunity to testify to the incom-
potency of the postal service.
If you have a friend in some large city
like Chicago or New York, bearing Some
humble name, as John Jones, or John
Smith, and you wish to send him a
present, always address your parcel,
"John Jones, New York" Never sup
ply his street and number. To do SO
would be vulgarly precise. Remember
that there are about 1854 John Smiths
in a city like New York, and that the
p~ostofice officials will be certain
to know just for which one of those
1854 the package is intended. No, do not
supply his full address.
Never write plainly and legibly when
addressing a package. Make your writ
ing appear as would the footprints of a
paralytic fly, that had fallen into your
ink bottle. A postmaster loves to pass
the lonely hours in trying to decipher
your illegible hieroglyphics. He will sit
by the hour and study the address,
vainly, and bless you with each feeting
breath. Should you write legibly you
might surprise him into an apoplectic
fit.
If you wish to wrap up a half a dozen
different articles in the same package,
tie the whole thing up loosely, that it
will fall to pieces upon the slightest
p~rovocatlon. 1t will add to the value
and appearance of your gifts to have
them kicked about the floor of some
postal car. It will also add to the
pleasant disposition of the clerk to have
to pick them up. This rule should be
carefully borne in mind.
If you have an article of especial value,
do not fail to send 1t by registered mail.
The custom of placing registered matter
in a pouch by itself was begun for the
convenience of trian robbers, as it saves
them the trouble of sorting out the valu-
ables from the worthless mail matter.
If there is a mail robbery, and your
package is registered, you will be sure
to lose it. The benefits OF the registry
system are plainly observable, even to
the most obtuse intellect.
Mas mic Installation.
Last Saturday the officers of Bis
marck Lodge No. 7, A. F. & A. NJ, were
installed for the ensuing year, by
Past Master Winchester. They are as
follows: w. NJ, w. 7. Perkins; s. w.,
S. N. Scott; J. W., A. E. Beal; Treas,
J.. 81. Marshall; Sec, F. E. Moorhouse;
s. D., Dan Williams; J. D., E. S.
Beardsley; Stewards, Chas. Howell and
Jas. Holt; Tyler, M. Wick. The craft
held their installation ceremonies in the
uroodpco NJ q 1orro n,,mhor ~ tho