The Washington times., 1894-05-28
SOME SIGHTS AND SCENES
At the General Delivery Window Of
the Post Office.
MANY PECULIAR CHARACTERS
Nay Be Observed to Come in and Inquire
for Letters-Ths Bashful Maiden and
tho Bluff Old Man-An Phases Of Hu-
mauity to Be Seen There.

II anyone wishes to study human nature,
to see his fellow creatures in many varieties,
and to study him in many moods, he can
choose no better spot for his investigation
than the General delivery window of the post
office on G near Sixth street. Uncle Sans 9
buildings are always interesting, but the cor
ridors OF the post Office are especially SO. II
Is here that the philosopher, the poet. or the
cynic may come for inspiration with the GER
tainity OF finding some theme on which to
moralize or about which he can write. From
early in the morning until late in the even.
ing the constant stream OF people dimin-
ishes and increases in size but never stops.
A reporter for The TIMES spent an interest
ing half hour at tine post Office the other day
and LETT the building with the impression that
If its walls had ears and were in addition
supplied with tongues they could tell some
queer tales of scenes in which hope deferred.
commonly supposed 10 make the heart sick,
would have no small part. OF hurried bus
fness men in search of a line from delin-
quent correspondents, OF blushing maidens in
the shy possession Of their first epistoary
love affair. of hardened roues awaiting a let
ter which they would rather not have come to
the house, of sad-faced women hoping against
uOpO lOE LILO lcttcI Ludt Will never COlls, ana
OF a thousand other little incidents. pathetic
and humorous, which in the haste and hurry
OF tho day are seldom observed and have
grown commonplace with frequent repetition.
The general delivery window is naturally
the center of attraction to the casual visitor
Here often a long line OF people awaiting
their turn, representing every walk and sta
ton in life, are congregated. In turn they
secure their mail or are told that there is
none for them and then each turns away with
seldom Il thought of those who have preceded
or those to follow. The indignant. red faced
woman who knows there is letter for her
and fiatly contradicts the clerk when he in
forms her to the contrary, the pale and
patient man who whispers his name and
fades away when the negative reply is given,
the foreigner anxiously awaiting line from
the family for which he is making a home in
the new country SO far from them the imrnac-
ulate dude and the gum-chewing schoolgirl,
all here on the same mission.
At this window the humorous scenes are the
most numerous and even the blase CLERK oc-
casionally smiles although he has seen them
all hundreds OF times before and will see them
a hundred times again before a change of ad-
ministration removes him from his present
environment. A line of perhaps ten people
stood at the window when the reporter stroll
led in the other day. In the line were many
who for years, perhaps, had come to that
same window every day on the same mission.
The first to come within the radius of the
clerks vision was foreigner. n German. ap-
parently, stout and good natured. his blonde
mustache hiding the jolly smile with which he
greeted the clerk.
'Aindt it some letters for me. eh?'' he in
quired genially. The clerk evidently knew
him, for without inguiring the name he
handed out the expected miss;-e and number
one passed away. with broader smile than
ever.
large man with face that indicated no
OF intelligence came next. He
rested his elbows comfortably on that window
ledge.
"Hello, any letters for Mark-?''
mo, SIR"
"That's funny Ought to be one here. I'm
expecting one"
well sir, none here"
'Are you sure?"
''Yes. Where do you expect the letter
from?''
"Eh?"
II say from what point do you expect the
letter?''
"Oh, most anv place.
But what particular place do you expect
this let
''Now, see here, don't get fly with me,
young feller. Ny correspondents are nu-
merous: any of 'em might write"
The next person TO be waited on was a frail
little woman in faded black dress OF ancient
pattern and positively medieval appearance
She looked up at the clerk from weak blue
eyes, which might have been pretty once.
She received a negative answer TO her ques-
ton and shrank away with "a little choke and
a bit of sob to make room for a brawny coun- |
tryman in bis best suit Of clothes. d very i'll
fitting one. in which he looked us uncom- |
Portable as possible.
Mail on the lightnin' exp press got in yet2"
whats that?' |
"Ge! Don't know the lightnin' express.
How long hev We ben here. anyhow? Why. |
I've watched that train so by my corn pastur'
for nigh on ten years. an now I've come 10 |
to see my daughter Maria that's |
stayin' with her aunt up on North Capitol |
street. an expect a letter from the old lady on |
that train
Whats the name?'' inquired the clerk, |
patiently.
1.-The old woman's name?"
"No, sir: yours"
"Oh. you want to know my name?"
Certainly, SIR
.'My names Silas W. Jones'"
The rural Silas secured a letter Of bulky |
proportions and went off murmuring that |
that derred clerk want such fool as he |
ooke1 for"
A characteristic southern darkey shuffied |
up at this moment. He pulled of his white |
hat and ducked his bald head with |
is fringe of gray wool in order to peer into
he window.
"Mo'nin', sah.'
"Good morning, uncle.'
'Any letters for me dis mo'nin'?"
''Let's see, what's your name?"
"You know who I is. boss Amt ben
,omin' heah ev'y day fo' mon three yeahs?''
Name. please"
"Andrew Jackson BeudeSard Johnsing."
"Well, Andy, haven't anything for you to-
lay"
Il 'spected letter, sab, but s'pose you
,nows."
Tie clerk smiled and to humor the old man,
vho seemed much disappointed. asked him
rom what part of the country he expected
he letter.
"Oh. mos any place in de sout"
''Got relatives down South, eh?"
"No, sab; not as l knows"
swell, who do you expect the letter from?"