The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-08-15
CHINESE HAIL CARRIERS
THE ARRANGEMENT WHICH ANSWERS
FOR A POSTAL system.


General Express Oempanie. = Kong
Trips and Many Dinieuitiss.
The government Of the Celestial empire
senos its official dispatches by special
couriers. but would deem II altogether
ont OF its sphere TO bother with the mail
OF priyate citizens. In eastern China a
toierably efficient substitute for our
postal system has, however, been organ
lied by private corporations that might
he described as local and general compa-
mics Nearly every city has a mail non~
tractor, who undertakes TO deliver letters
and small packages within the municipal
lin ts OF his burg and OF the neighboring
VILLAGE. The larger cities occasionally
interchange mail pouch, and their con-
tractors keepa sort n directory OF firms
of the maritime pxoUipces.
The general express companies do q
much more extensive business. They de-
liver verbal messagsx letters, bags Of
specie, and small cousjgnments Of ner-
chand Use at AIRY accessible point OF the
empire, and have their agents in every
iron-road village and mt the principal
landings Of The great inter provincial
waterways
They. too, take charge of local letters,
and in the ardor OF competition the tEo
rival organ izations, resort to all kinds OF
strange expedients. Not content with
receiving oonsignmentsq with or without
prepayment of charges3 at their head
quarter Offices, they send collectors from
house to house and keep runners, who,
like our newsboys, haunt the street corn
ers and make n rush for every customer
lifting his hand or his eyelids.
III the agents OF the locals should call
nj q new home and find that his rival OF
the generals has got ahead Of him he will
at once try 10 bride the d0mestics and
thus recover the inside track for the next
race. Should private errand boy leave q
house with a letter or package runner
viii promptly attempt to take him in
tow, and II necessary purchase his con-
nivance with nm offer Of sweetmeats.
TheIcollect0rs of both companies are
generally expert penmen. Letters, sirT"
Inquired the L. man, sticking his head
through the window OF a ground-foor
parlor.
EYES," draws out the possible GUS
toner, chewing his Writing-stick :" but
I'm not done yet. Can you wait, or call
again in an honrs"
aDo let me write il Cor you" suggests
the representative of the L; IT will only
like you the trouble Of backing his fin
gers No extra charge, SIR; it's a pas
time, but those G. fellows are too blanked
lazy to accommodate a customer. Let me
come in, sir !" &c, till he gets thejob and
few extra eoppers for tea money" In
spite OF his protest.
Bat the q. man Ii apt TO get even il .
letter should be returned to the sender
n undeliyerableL /" That shows what they
know about their business. Why, All
Chow moved to Marking a monthago and
lives In q house three doors below the
White street corner OF the cabbage mar
ket Let me have that letter and I'll get
you an answer In week. Those L. fell
lows don't know anything outside of their
own hash-mill routes. No prepayment
needed; you can settle after you find out
that the letter has been delivered"
Long-trip messengers of the general ex-
press travel pairwise and are miraculous
adopts in the art OF reconciling a mimi
mum of expense with a maximum OF
speed. They will take a hand in the
navigation of boats, load themselves
with extra consignments OF all but the
most unreasonable overweight; they
will volunteer to deliver messages or
execute commissions, and thus secure
many a free ride besides the honest good
will OF the wayside population.
As rule the inhabitants of highway
side towns deem it matter OF honor to
aid mail carrier in possible emergencies,
ferry him ACROSS swollen rivers, or, In
case OF sickness, carry MIN on muieback
to the next town anead, and the North
China Herald published the story or
letter that had been sent TO the Tar
western province OF Yuman, where the
messenger died in consequence OF extreme
fatigues in crossing the snow-covered
highlands. He had contrived to find the
addressee, but found himself obliged to
intrust travelling peddler with the re-
ceipt, that was forwarded from hand to
hand till 1t reached its destination in far
on Tian Sing ION the Bay OF Pechili)
after the lapse of seven months.
When Sir Hudson Lowe refused the ex-
emperor the privilege of sending I'M
opened letters to Europe, the Count dc
Tas Casns updaPt0ak tn eir hk