Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-18
Sc DING PRE- ENTS.
The Rush is Already On and the Post Office
Busy.
Omcial Advice ms to Sending Presents
Letters for Santa Claus-For-
eign Mail First.

The mail tells Of the approach Of Santa
Claus. The pressure OF Yuletide CORE
spondence is beginning to be felt, and the
postal people are girding their loins for
the rush. They will lend a hand to help
Washingtonians give the patron saint OF
winter his annual embrace, and will exert
themselves in making his reception a sue
cess. Mighty mails always mark the on
coming Of the hero of the season. AS yet
the tidal wave has not disturbed the even
tenor of the postal service, but the sounds
and signs which tell of its advance are
heard and seen. Preparations for the post
and parcel food are being rapidly perfect
ed. Substitute carriers are held in readi-
ness to execute the orders of their chiefs
and to distribute that mail which Will
kindle fires on cherries hearths and light
hope in hopeless hearts; which will tell
people that they live in the memory OF
absent friends; that distance is no obstacle
to unity. and that the season is one OF hap
piness and love.
Sending Presents.
Today there is a slightly abnormal move
ment of outgoing mail Washingtonians
are thinking of the friends in far-oT lands
and sending their tokens of love- SO that
they may reach their destination by Christ
OF this mail, and the number of packages
addressed to ireland and Germany prove
how well those countries are represented
here. and how strongly the memories OF
home cling round the minds OF our for
eign-born population. Many of these par
GELS Will hnd their way to the dead letter
office. IL history is to repeat itself. as in
past years large percentage of the Christ
mas mail finding its way into the dead
letter office has been just this class of
matter. There are two reasons for this
1t is addressed, in a large number OF cases,
by people who are not quite up to Amerf-
can postal requirements, and then many
articles mailable under the postal rules
and regulations of the United States are
unavailable under the laws OF the Universal
Postal Union. A good deal of the postal
outflow is addressed to long -distance points
in the boundless west, where the slow-going
star route coaches holds sway and pursue
their wild and woolly way. The swell of the
incoming mail is scarcely felt as vet ana
is day or 50 later in setting in this year
than last 1t will begin to manifest itself
about Monday, and by the middle Of the
week will be here In a spasm. The au-
thorities will have to hustle to handle 1t
Young America.
A few Of the usual Santa Claus letters
have been received from Young America
They are addressed to Santa Claus, Kris
krfngle, &c, and are variopsly signed Jim
my and Johnny. These letters are held be-
cause OF insufficient address. One yourg
Washingtonian prays Santa to fetch him a
gun. a sword and a belt. saying that he
wants "ter lick the stuffin' out'n Billie
what lives on the next square" Sister Sue
is on hand with her request for a doll, al
leging that her mamma is too poor to buy
her the desired toy and that she places her
trust In the bounty Of Santa Little Willie
comes up smiling and says "plese unkel
santa plese tn sen me q perlice wissel and
klmb fer I want tn run in some OF the othur
fellers."
Lighter This Year.
Because Of the recent money stringency
the post office officials think that the
Christmas mail OF this year will be con-
siderably lighter than that of last year.
They also base this prediction on inter-
views which they have had with merchants,
who say that although the holiday trade Is
brisk it is below the standard for a corre-
spending time last year. The Christmas ar
rivals will set In about the 18th, the maxi
mum receipts will be reached on December
q. the decline will set in on December "a
and will remain stationary at about $50 per
cent above normal till January i. Then the
ordinary conditions will be resumed and for
normal
The normal posting OF packages at the
Washington Office is 450 per day. On De-
oember 10 1t will be about 100: 10th, 1000;
2lst. 1900: 22d. 1000; 23d, 1900; oath,
1000, and from the 26th to the 3lst Il will
run about 1000 a day. This is based on the
mail of last year and an allowance II made
for the expected decrease.
Omcial Advice.
The officials are ready to grapple with the
rev conditions. In order to prevent disap-
pointment as much as possible the city post
ONCE has issued circular. which says
among other things:
AT this season of the year when persons
are sending SO many presents by mall mis-
takes in addressing the parcels are likely
to occur unless unusual care is exercised
by the sender. for. notwithstanding all the
EFFORTS of the post office. some Christmas
parcels will go astray.
II would like to make a few suggestions,
which. judging from the experiences of
past years, may prevent the Christmas
packages being sent to the dead letter Office
do not walt until day or two before
Christmas to mail packages; mail early
especially those addressed to distant states
and territories; wrap carefully in strong
paper and place the name or initials, togeth-
er with the address of the sender. on the
left hand corner OF the wrapper to insure
return in case Of non-delivery.
Postage on merchandise is 1 cent for
each ounce. unsealed, and must be fully
prepaid; IL sealed against inspection or II
package contains written matter the parcel
Is subject to first-class postage, cents for
each ounce; limit Of weight Of merchandise,
unsealed, in the United States is four
pounds
Merchandise is liable TO be returned TO
sender for the following reasons: II IL be
misdirected or illegibly addressed; II II
bears insufficient postage; IL package con-
tains unavailable matter; IL package con-
tains written matter when merchandise
rates are paid.
"Only bona fide samples Of merchandise,
unsealed, can be mailed to foreign countries.
All sealed packages having the appearance
Of merchandise will lie stamped Liable to
custom duty"