The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-02-10
in
oUEERTAINcS FoUNoiN UNCLE
SANS MAILS.
Fluids, Pistols. Rsttiesnakes, Aiiisa-
tors Among the Articles Forward
sd--pead Letter Museum in
Washinoton.

way to prevent il. OF course, If they
are shipped in unsealed packages,
they can be ex amined and destroyed.
Postmasters not infrequently come
across queer-looking parcels. Per-
chance the torn wrapper Of a sus-
pected bundle reveals a cylindrical
box covered with t%in-foil, inside of
which a ticking sound is audible.
The sender, if known, is notified that
he may have the article returned to
him if he likes by express. Other
wise it is put where it can DO no harm.
one day not long ago, a box frank
ly labelled Dynamite, . reached the
Dead Letter Office, A messenger
was ordered TO open it gently, and
outdoors. The package proved, as
had been imagined, a sell"
OF articles suspected to be ex-
plosive many are fluids. They are
promptly disposed OF, even innocent
liquids being unavailable under the
law. The postmaster, after destroy
ing the contents Of a parcel, forwards
the wrapper to Washington, where it
is placed on file for record. Thus,
if inquired about, the fate of the in
closure can be determined.
However, no amount of suspicion
would warrant Il poStofice official in
breaking the seal OF a package on
which letter rates are paid. 1t is abb
solutely sacred. Accordingly, the
proper way to send explosives by mail
is at full postage. Uncle Sam cannot
prevent that, though every year
large quantities Of firecrackers and
torpedoes shipped as fourth-class
matter are seized, as well as number
less boxes of cartridges, percussion
caps, etc.
A six-barreled revolver at full cock.
with every chamber loaded, once
came into the Dead-Letter Office.
1t was addressed to a lady in
Springfield, H., who could not be
found. The dead-letter clerks are
not astonished ct anything. They
have got beyond that.
In the packages they have found
such things as rattlesnakes, cent?
pedes, tarantulas, ella monsters and
alligators from Florida, all alive and
squirming. They classify with COM
posure such Enclosures as petrified
frogs. stuffed gophers, Toltec idols,
gold nuggets, spirit photographs,
skulls, Indian scalps and human
ears.
A common occurrence is a bundle
OF old letters tied with Il ribbon,
usually containing a tinger-ring and a
last note saying Il return herewith
your letters all is over between us"
This excites no sentimental feelings
on the part Of the hardened postal
employee. Rather will he pause for
a second to tickle the horned toad
found in the next parcel.
Once upon a time a girl sent by
mail to a friend Il peculiar moss-agate
ring as a Christmas present. The
gift never reached its destination.
Three years later, while visiting an
other city, she stayed at n boarding
house. On the opposite side of the ia
BILE at dinner she saw a man who wore
his necktie through a ring. 1t was
the missing m~oss-agate.
She asked him where he got it, and
he explained that he had bought it at
a Dead-Letter Office sale in Washing
ton. In some name it had found
its way into Uncle Sans waste
basket, and had been put up at auc-
ton among the 40, 200 articles which
thus accumulate at the Post-Ofice
Department annually.
This lotsam and jetsam of the
mails is kept in a little museum ut
the department at Washington.
Among them are several sets of false
teeth. Not long ago an old man,
after gazing for some time at the
teeth, became much excited. 4
vigorous discussion arose between
himself and wife, she nudging him and
trying TO restrain him from speaking.
But he would not listen TO her, and
finally broke out with
They are my teeth | would know
them anywhere" He explained that
one Of the sets of teeth had belonged
to him, but had been lost in the
mail. That he was not mistaken,
he presently proved by putting them
into his mouth, which they fitted per-
fectly. Having given a receipt for
them, he walked away with them in
triumph.
Thousands Of articles are found
every year in the mails without
wrappers. Not very long ago a hand
some gold watch was thus discovered
in a post-box. Possibly it was dropped
in by a pickpocket anxious to get rid
of spoils that would betray him.
An auction sale OF accumulated
dead packages is held annually by
the department. The one which
took place last month netted nearly
$4,000. This was probably more than
twice what all the goods disposed of
were worth. Cheap jewelry" figures
largely in the stock offered.
Most numerous among the articles
disposed Of at the post-ofice auction
are handkerchiefs. Next come mems
neckties. Third in point Of number,
strange 10. say, are Catholic medals