The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-09-24

one with It's curious hieroglyphics and phoneticaiiy spelled words. that it requires great skill. as we'll as long experience, with something or the power of divination. to be able to de- cipher some of them at all. From con stant practice. however the clerks ar- rive to a degree of expertness which Is quite remarkable. Daily. letters are received from local offices all over the United States. over which the employees have vainly puzzled themselves, which are quickly interpreted by the expert clerks In this department. and sent for- ward ts their destination.
 Tt Is a kind Of intuition we have" said a white-haired. pleasant-faced lady who sat near the entrance or the clerks gallery which extended on the three remaining sides of the room, and was separated from the one designed for visitors by q low. iron gate. when one has spent lifetime here as l have" she continued, "the reading Of hieroglyphics becomes sort Of in- stinct. l believe. Now l have been here since before the war, and l cer- talnly ought to know something about the business"
 win you kindly tell me which Is the blind reader?' the one who Is said to possess such miraculous powers" inquired.
 "oh! you mean Mrs. Collins." said she. T think you have been reading the Ladies' Home Journal. or the New York World. You would be surprised to know the number of people who have inquired about her lately. It's all since this newspaper notoricty; for, do you know" this confidentia'ly there are others here who do equally good work; for instance the two young girls who arc her assistants"
 T suppose you have met with some undecipherable chirosraphy in the years that you have been hete," re- marked. E
 Indeed I have" she rcl'l.cd. "IIere are some that you may examine, If you like," leading the way to the small table which stood near the entrance on which was a big official-lookins book with black covers, in which a record was kept of the most peculiar spec linens. A few of these she kindly al- lowed me to copy.
 The first on the written page was directed to "Larance fur Goine Brunis- ic." T sent this to Lawrenceville, Brunswick county Virginia, and 1t proved to be right"
 But surely there is nothing here to indicate what part of the country this letter belonged. Why did you send it to Virginia instead of any other state?" I inquired.
 Intuition, you know" she said laugh ingly "besides I am Virginian by birth, and perhaps that made it easier"
 The next on the list was directed "Shishacough." q knew at once this meant Chicago, for have seen that name spelled very queerly before-and sent it on there to its owner"
 But this one was too much for me-" pointing to the next one. It was sent to Cousin Kate Brick House .Ameri ca."
 T need not tell you was not success full with these, either" pointing to the next two. One was directed Ito the new city," the other, ito the largest tanner in New York"
 "This was equally mystifying," and she indicated another. It read Please deliver this letter to my son who drives yoke of red oxen and the railroad goes through his place."
 "Of course we had no difficulty with ths," pointing to the last one on the page, but we kept it because it was such ludicrous specimen. It was writ ten in a scrawling hand and covered the entire envelope" It was directed to
 Jack Smith, the web- foot scrub,
 To whom this letter wants to go,
 Is cutting cord wood for his grub,
 In Boise City, Idaho."
 RACHEL ROGERS.