The morning times., 1895-12-08
PRETTY STAMP zssEt[ERs'
Some Of the Ways Of Washington
People They Meet ia a Day.il
ASKED ABOUT EVERYTHING
Stamps Sold Must Also Be Licked,
Packages Weighed and Directed,
Street Directions Given and the
Number of the Fire Alarm-Work
That Cannot Grow Monotonous.

There is scarcely q personin Washington
who would not rather purchase stamp
for his letter at one of the thirty-odd branch
postoffices in the city than at the postoffice
proper. Especially is this true when the
person that sits behind the desk is a comely
young lady, as is true in almost every in
stance. "
but you have no idea what we have TO
contend with i'll a day" remarked cne OF
the prettiest stampsellers1n In one c1 the busi-
est downtown sGbstations. A postal guide,
an encyclopedia and an nabridged all COM
bined could not produce one-half the infor-
nation we are expected to dispense in a
week. Even Capitol guide would be
dunIbfouhded and advanced TO aprenature
grave were he required to I'LL the position"
inspired with the lines dropped by the
Htamp-seler, a reporter OF The Times
asked and was granted permission to assist
the young lady for half day. OF course,
the assistance intended by the reporter was
that of note-taking and watching the antics
of letter writing and stanip-buying human
ity.
Just as the clock pointed the short hand
at and the long one at IL the reporter
climbed OH a chair behing the stamp win
dow. The young postnistress had not
arrived. The long hand of the clock had
moved On half q minute when She entered.
Immediately the stamp-bdying public be
gan. 1t was represented by a large, burly
man, with a sunset nose and Picturesque
beard, who had been standing outside the
window when the reporter entered.
LIKE A BULLDOG.
81 thought this office had to open at 8
O'clock" he growled, like an Alexandria
bulldog, as the young woman thrust her
cold fingers in her pocket for the desk key.
Gimme a stamp
He was served, and as he traversed the
glued side OF the stamp with his tongue
the young lady threw OFF her wraps and
climbed into her chair
Two stamps, please; want 10 ketcha
car" came through the wicker an instant
later as a gaunt, natch-like man with a
scarcity OF breath stood la the gruff
mans shoes and stuck four cent pieces
through the aperture. The young lady
began to arrange her change.
'.Will you weight this, please?" a fe-
male voice asked, as bundle came through
the aperture.
Merchandise" mechanically asked the
postmistress.
''Oh, how impudentl'' from the outside.
Its none or your business. I'll report
you at headquarters and VIII mail this there,
too, so you won't get your commission. III
see that you're dismissed, certain
address that to Mrs. Blank, Ashevile,
pose you've got mail books thatn telL'
The voice outside was that OF an old Lady and
she glided soiled envelope with a letter
inside over the desk.
II don't know the lady's number" said
the girl re-
well, you might look it up
But we have nothing
81 know better. But send il anyhow; she'll
get 1t. There's the money; stamp't.'
The girl started to protest, but the patron
was gone
MORE OR LESS PATIENT. -
'Give me one stamp, piease"-a mascu-
line voice and SO bill.
rs tits the smallest youhSve!
I'm sorry, Miss, but yes, it is" He was
SO polite and ntce-lookIng that she COM
piled, though she told him she did not have
to take the money. The strIi 9 OF humanity
pushed from behind and the I. Ntation could
not continue.
Give me three stamps" said a wheeZy,
rouDd-faced lady, with rutfIed-feathered
boa eBcircling her neck as SIX cents and
three letters came over the desk. Put
them on, too
I'm not here to lick stamps" hotly
replied the young woman, as her patience
for the instant deserted.
Put them on, Miss Smarty," imperious-
ly came from the oa-necircled throat, and
the crowd pushed the buyer on.
II want TO register this tenor voice
said. Il want twenty-five stamps be-
sides. and viii you kindly wrap them up?''z
* in yer change a nickel?" piped news
boys voice.
go 10 the cashier was the response.
zone stamp, please" as two cents came
over the desk.
Wont you direct this was asked as
the inevitable letter made its appearance
through the aperture.
The Job was done and the young woman
was given breathing spell for the first
time. II was nearly o'clock.
II do wish there would never be another
letter written" she sighed. THE people
have been trifle pleasanter than usual
on the whole this morning, but then"
How much vhas Got ledder worth to
send to Shermany?" was heard through
the wicker work.
Its extra weight. Will cost you ten
cents"
"stamb i'd" and quarter rolled in in
payment.
LOST ONE CUSTOMER.
"How long viii it take letter mailed
now to reach Chicago?" came next from
the next person before the desk.
''Till tomorrow night
''win special delivery stamp take it
quicker?'' -.-.-.
Not bit. That Is to expedite delivery
after 1t reaches Chicago"
''Well, let 'em go to thunder, then. 1
won't write" and voice and man departed
together.
Ten minutes elapsed unbroken save by
the almost ceaseless "0ne stamp, please"
MAKE 1t five" 1.-TWO two's," Ten ones,
and "A quarters worth"
Sec that this gets through the mall
please" came from a colored woman, as
she thrust stamped envelope with the
address aspiring to the upper leit-hand
corner through the opening
The young lady took it wearily.
"Heve you seen anything of my little
boy come into the store?'' tasked the next
instant an anNious-faced' young mother.
mo, ma'am," came the response.
"Well, give me four stamps, please"
"Some evenings feel nearly dead when
go home," remarked the young lady
wearily, as she descended to the floor for
a change of position. A face with strong
ly acoholic breath filled the aperture.
Here's sh' check fer thish bottle o med
ichine got" it said.
PAY the cashier please"
"Ain't thfc) shish sh' casheer?"
mo. no" was the balffrightened response.
1--WE sell stamps here"
We'll, gime thic) five sherts' worth or
stamps, then," drawled the alcoholic GUS
toner.
''Can you change this bill for me?" was
the male-vciced query seventy seconds later
ASK the cashier, please" tAsfde),
"She'd give me hail Columbia If she knew
l sent these people to her,"
AS DIRECTORY AND TELEPHONE.
At