Rock Island Argus., 1893-12-20
SOME SUGGESTIONS.

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The art Of window-dressing, like
the methods Of making magazine il
lustrations. is improving with age.
Five years ago the retail mer-
chant would not have believed it
possible to present so many attrac-
tive window pictures in his store
front as are given today and. may
hap, five years hence he will think
scornfu!ly enough of the pretty show
displayed in this year of grace while
comparing it with the gorgeous
mounting then apparent. Rock ISL
and shop windows never presented
the elaborate display before that they
do this holiday season, and the mer-
chants were never so well stocked as
they are now. 1t is gratifying to note
that, despite dull times, Rock Island
is having more than an average holi-
day trade, and each day sees more
and more bundles in the arms Of
home going shoppers.
Sending Gifts by Mall.
1t has often been remarked that
the holiday season makes the postal
clerk wish that he were out of the
business. In view of the ordeal
through which the poor postal clerk
is supposed to pass at this particular
time, the following suggestions are
offered for the benefit of postoffice
patrons:
; Every package should be presented
at the retail stamp window in the
postoffice for weighing and inspection
before mailing.
Articles of value should be regis
tered.
Packages should be wrapped in
heavy wrapping paper. tied with
strong twine. and the name and ad-
dress of the sender, as well as of the
addresser, should be written thereon
in ink.
Christmas or New Years or other
cards and photographs with frames,
or articles bearing Christmas and New
Years greeting SO elaborate in tLeir
design as to have an intrinsic value
outside of the sentiment attached to
them. such as satin pin cushions, eel
luloid calendars and plaques, cannot
be mailed to countries other than
Canada and Mexico at less than letter
rates of postage. and only when
they conform to the rules prescribed.
Pairs of articles. two or more
articles of exact counterpart, hand-
kerchiefs. needlework, articles OF
wearing apparel perfectly whole and
complete in themselves. cannot be
considered in any sense as samples
and cannot be mailed to any forei gn
country outside of Canada or Mexico
except ut letter rates of postage, and
only to those countries when they
conform to the rules prescribed.
The limit M weight on bona fidc
trade samples is 81 ounces.
The limit OF weight on printed
matter to foreign countries, except
Canada. is four pounds six ounces,
and packages must not exceed IL
inches in any direction.
Articles otherwise mailable. con-
tanning any writing. and not paid at
letter rates Of postage, cannot be
mailed to foreign countries, other
than Canada and Mexico.
Articles of coin and jewelry can
not be mailed to foreign countries.
Sealed packages mot letters) ad.
dressed to Canada and Mexico are
not mailable.
Photographs. pictures and printed
cards should not be closed aud sealed
and marked photograph only" OF
"printed matter" or ''boOkp0st,"
but must be tied with string or lef,
so as to be easy to inspect. The
public often obtain rates Of postage
on such articles without saving
they are sealed or about to be sealed.
DO no. leave packages on tops o!
street boxes. as they may never reach
the postoflice.