The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-02

IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
4 POSTAL MUSEUM.
Golden Dsys.)

ment In Washington for a poata
museum, which is intended TO show
how different nations carry .hc
mails. Many foreign governments
have already forwarded TO Wash
iDgton exhibits of their methods,
which consIgnments include cos.
tunes of letter carriers, which IN
Europe are very gorgeous and
military, specimen letter boxes,
miniature mail vehicles, snpeI
photographs OF foreign postoiiices,
statuettes representing people en-
gagged IN transporting mail attrl
various fashions, AID many other
interesting things.
From India comes a set OF finely
executed figures in papler mache.
One OF them shows postal runner
IN British India carrying a bag of
letters, and with a long spear in his
| =
The weapon is for his defense
against the wild animals that in
fest the jungle through which he is
obliged to pass, though one woOld
think it poor tool for coping with
a striped tiger of Bengal, while the
bells are intended TO frighten cohras
and other veDomous serpents.
Another statuette represents the
same runner in the act of padding
across a stream in his Gust omary
manner, on a raft made simply Of
| four big corked jars of earthenware
| fastened together.
Other mail carriers are seen
riding on camels. which easily
travel eighty miles "a day, or in
light carts drawn 10y Indian buf-
faIoes over rough roads where
horses could not 90.
Austria has sent an EXHIBIT
comprising everything imaginable
that has to DO with the business of
carrying the mails, even to post
mark stamps, ink pads, aud the
written music of the bugie call by
which the postmen IN that country
announce their arrival
Canada has sent a set of mail
carries uniforms, with winter caps
and collars of real Astrakan fur,
leather leggings, scarlet chamois
skin under waistcOats tor cold
weather, and gold buttons.
Italy, SPAN, Germany, France
aud Switzerland have sent cOntri-
buttons for the museum. SO have
Russia. Turkey and Persia, aud
others are expected from elsewhere.
In the museum Will Ue illustrated
various primitive methads Of carry
ing the mails now and in arcitnt
times. One model Will show the
native postal runner of South AT
rica. Who bears the letter Intrusted
to his care In split stick, which he
plants up right in the ground when
he pauses to rest, He consumes little
fooi, but much tobacco; and bis
a nj
no clothes, but covers bis naked
body with oil, afterwards rolling III
the iust, so that the flies will find
HIM too unpleasant to bite. He
carries the letter IN the manner
described, so that It will not get
greasy; and, whIfe swimming with
| one hand across the stream, holds
the miesiye out of water wItE the
other.
Another type shown will he The
messenger of Scriptural times ire-
quentIy referred 20 in the Bible,
who conveyed royal messages by
word Of mouth. 1t is incredible
how swiftly information or OIders
could be transmitted In this way
! across the country, every man beng
Obliged by law 10 immediately tor
sake his occupation and run and
tell the next person along the line
| of communication.
The Bedouins practice this
method of conveying intelligence at
| the present day. II there is news
for an individual, each one WHO
hears it communicates 1t TO all his
neichbors; and they spread it III
every direction until the man is
found for whom it is meant.
Other models in the new museum
will represent the wonderful postal
couriers Who carry royal messages
in China. They art the most rapid
riders ia the world, and have been
known to make the entire distance
of three thousand miles from Lassa
the capital of Thibet, to Fekin, III
twenty-five days.
They have right 70 seize, by
imperlal reQulsitlOn, any hofses Oh