Smyrna times., 1894-02-21

driver, for frequently there were pack
ages of money forwarded by the banks
as we'll as letters containing bank bills,
drafts, checks, etc, there being no
other mode of transmittal, for we had
no railroads, or express companies
then as now.
One of the peculiar features of the
arrival of the stage coach containing
the mail late in the afternoon-for we
had Tut one mail daily-was when
driver Wilson would turn the bend of
the road in the upper end of the town.
He would blow a long horn, about
four feet in length, or sometimes his
bugle, in order to notify the townspeo-
pie tie mail was coming. When thew
heard the music, for jewsharps. mouth
organs, hddles and accOrdeons. were
about all the instruments the people
had to make music, would run to their
doors and windows to see the stage
coming, and when the mail was deliv-
cred at the post office and assorted, the
people would eagerly go there to get
their newspaper or expected letter
from some loved one far, far away.
The postage on letters was ten
cents, and made payable either by the
sender or receiver. There were no
postage stamps nor envelopes and the
letters were generally written on a
large-sized letter sheet folded in Pc
culiar manner and either sealed with
waters or sealing wax.
What a wonderful change and i'm
proVement in this respect now when
letters are written by the million every
day on half sheet of commercial note
paper, conveniently enclosed in a neat
envelope stamped by the Government
two cents, and a package containing
twenty-five is sold at the post office
for tiftyfour cents, all nicely prepared
for sealing without either wafer or
sealing wax.
Very many ofthe present generation
and residents of Smyrna have any
knowledge of these wonderful changes
and for that reason I have thought
these "reminiscences might be of inter.
est to your many appreciative readers
some of the older of whom may recol
lect some of the events herein referred
to.
One of the letters which l fine
among the many which ! have pre-
served is from the late James A. Bay
ard, father of Am mbassador T F.. Bayard
who at the time was Senator from Del.
aware, and who for many years repre-,
sented Delaware in the Seuate of the
United States. As tho letter refers tC
establishing a mail stage route from
Smyrna to ChestertOwn, Md, which
was subsequently, done, l have though
it might be an interesting reminder O
antiquity and the days of stage coaches
and inclOse the letter to you for pub.
licaUion, which may be of interest t
many of your readers who knew hin
and were politically friends of his, a,
was the writer at that time.
The letter you will preserve and re-
turn to me. for regard it as an heir
loom as was from one of Delaware
illustrious, departed sons.
Very truly, R.H. G..
WASHINGTON, June II, 1858.
DEAR SIR:
| received the petition you Forwarded
to me respecting the establishment O
a daily mail line from Smyrna to Ches
tertOwn.
There is at present no post route es
tablished by law between Smyrna anC
Chestertown, but Mr.. Pearce has haC
an amendment prepared for the Post
route bill, which will establish such {
route and there can be no doubt of it
adoption. When the route is made
post route, it will rest in the discretion
of the POstmaster-General whether b.
will order daily line upon it. | will
present the petition to him before tn
session closes, and press upon him tn
prOprietY of a daily mail line,-and bot
Mr.. Pearce and Mr.. Whiteley will urg
the matter upon him, The doubt
entertain is whether with the presen
tendency to retrenchment we shall b
able to convince the p. NJ. G. tina
such daily line is necessary. We wi
try however.
Yours truly,
]. A. BAYARD.
| k. ii (tUMMTNg