The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-02


nished. They were all returned to the
department with an indignant letter, say
ing that they were lust common store
teeth, and could not by any possibility be-
long TO refined mouth" as that of the
writer.
An article which excited no little sur.
prise at the dead letter Office some wears
ago was sort of Mardi Gras garment,
covered all over with pictures of playing
cards. II was finally ascertained that
such gowns were made in this country
for expectation to the Hawaiian Islands.
Natives of more or less distinction, it APP
peared, were in the habit of wearing
them on occasions of ceremony, consider
ing them both dignihed and becoming.
In 1889 the steamer Oregon sank in the
harbor of New York. Divers fetched up
from the wreck such valuables as they
could find, together with many sacks of
mail. In the sacks We're found hundreds
of pairs of kid gloves wrapped in newspa-
pers. This is a common method of snug
Cling. Another favorite way of cheating
the customs through the trans-oceanic
post is to do up dutiable articles in bun
dies of herbs which are supposed to be
samples.
Thousands of articles are found every
year in the mails without wrappers. Not
very long ago handsome gold watch was
thus discovered in a post box. No clew
as to its owner was ever obtained. One
theory suggested was that it might have
been dropped in by pickpOcket anxious
to get rid of spoils that would betray him.
Another posi- bility was that a gentleman
of convivial turn, instructed by his wife
to mail letter, might have INDUCED in a
few drinks, then suddenly rem embering
his errand and dropping his timep.ece
through the slot in place OF the epistle.
THE AUCTION SALE,
An auction sale of accumulated dead
packages is held annually by the depart
ment here. The one which took place last
month Melted nearly $4,000 This was
probably more than twice what all the
goods disposed of were worth, but they
are bought ''unsight, uuseen,' and the
suggestion of gambling about it attracts
purchasers. AT the same time, all of the
things composing the contents Of the
blind bundles are duly catalogued by the
postofhce officials, SO that the buyer has
a rough notion of what he is bargaining
for, though having no opportunity for in
spection. Cheap jewelry' figures largely
in the stock offered. The original par
GELS, numbering 10000 or more, are all
unwrapped, and the merchandise they
contain is condensed into about 5000
packages. All printed matter is thrown
away, except books, Most of these are
sold, the residue going 70 the library Of
Most numerous among the articles dis
posed of at the post Office auctions are
handkerchiefs. Next come mems neck
ties. Third in point of number, strange
to say, are Catholic medals and rosaries.
IL would be interesting to know why so
many of these pious emblems are contin-
ually travelling about in the mails. Among
oyher things listed for the sale the other
day were razOrs, dark lanterns, packs of
playing cards, poker dice, cigars, poker
chips, stogies, hair curriers', wire garters,
pads, bunion plasters, trusses, dental for
cops, electric belts, hypodermic syringes,
abdominal supporters, dolls, artificial
birds eyes, mosquito bars. artificial
whiskers, coffin plates and Hawaiian
stamped envelopes.
All of the things thus gathered at the
dead letter ol1ce are kept for two years
before being sold They are stored away
on shelves in several rooms beneath the
postOAiCe department building. Much
trouble used to be had with rats, which
tore the parcels 10 pieces and frequently
ate up the contents. They would reduce
cotton cloth to small scraps for their
nests, while silk handkepchiefs were re-
garded by them as particularly eligible
for the same purpose. Boxes of wedding
cake, which frequently find their way TO
the dead letter ONCE. they soon emptied.
But they seemed most fond of pincushions
and dolls stuned with bran Two years
ago the rodents were destroyed and
driven away by means of ferrets, and
since that time this sort Of mischief has
ceased.
MAGAZINES BY THE THOUSAND.
The dead letter officeg obbles thousands
of magazines. If such publications are
" cd ooh t,aE. -
postage small trouble is taken to deliver
them. They are distributed among the
charitable institutions of Washington. In
the same way great numbers of Christ
mas cards find their way into the appre-
ciative possession of the charity children
OF the district. Most of the packages go
astray about Christmas time. They lack
postage, are instructed, are wholly
blank on the outside, or have lost their
wrappers. At the same cheerful season
thousands of letters come into the dead
letter ONCE addressed TO Santa Claus,
North Pole, or Santa Claus, Arctic Re
gion." Some have stamps and others not.
They are mailed by children in good
faith, conveying requests for such gifts as
are desired. On one such note. addressed
to kris Kringle, Hartz Mountains, -
came back from Germany while ago,
scrawled all over by sixteen different
that no such person could be found
Only the other day lost letter reached
the department which was addressed to
Marshall q Son, Ltd, Gainsboro ;" II
was from ST. Peters burg and contained a
draft Tor $50 900. Instead of coming by
way Of Europe IL had Travelled across
Asia 10 Washington via San Francisco.
The Ltd. " showed that it was meant for
firm in England, where business con-
Germs commonly put Limited" after the
commercial title Accordingly, to wind up
its journey around the world, it was sent
thither