Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-09-26
CURIOUS USES OF THE NAILS
Many Odd Specimens of Mer-
chandise Carried.
THE LAUNDRY OF A HARLEM MAN
And the NewIy-made Molars of
M a West Side Maiden.
What Was Discovered IN an Hours In
spection of the Package Department of
the New York Postoffice Everything
From Flowers to False Hair.
New York World.

New York World.
The discovery OF Commissioner
Rooseveltls bomb is only one Of the
many enlivening occurrences in the
package department of the New York
postofiice. In an hours inspection
"'World" reporter saw a strange assort-
mentlof goods. There was everything
from flowers to false hair and great
deal that even the most fertile imagina-
tion might fail TO sandwich in between.
For instance Harlem man whose
laundry is trusted to the tender care OF
particularly expert Chinaman in
Brooklyn, was unfolded to view A
west side maiden who might not like
TO have it known that her molars are
not her own, was identified as the
owner Of set of lovely goldfilled teeth
passing through the mail on their way
to the dentist for repairs
A large cartoon, bound for the office
Of Puck" was in evidence, ana it
may make Commissioner Roosevelt feel
nearly as bad as the bomb might have
done. A three pound novel, on its way
to the "Harpers, was leisurely
SKINNED over to see il the author was
trying to cheat the government. 1t
diffused such tone Of blue Presby-
terianism that after examining the
index and skimming through to the
climax, it was decided to be unneces-
sary to scan each page separately, as
would very likely be the case in six
pound erotic novel. The life of the
package examiner is therefore some
times sad one.
Night and day busy force is at
work looking over the packages that
come in. The superintendent of the
department is lgnatius Campbell, a
young and energetic man, who is said
to put the force through an immense
amount Of work in very short time.
He has made several important dis
coveries for the department. Notable
among these was the assistance he gave
in the capture Of the st. Louis post
office robbers. He has II clerks work
ing for him, two of whom are women.
One of the women, Miss Daisy James,
discovered the Roosevelt bomb.
In the hour that the ''World'' re.
porter assisted in the inspection of the
mail there was discovered a beautiful
silky set of curling bangs directed to
the home of an uptown woman. From
that she was neighbor of his Several
packages containing spectacles were
opened. Most of them were being re-
turned to the optician for exchange,
and, as they contained notes explain
ing why they were unsatisfactory, were
marked for extra postage, which the
opticians will have to pay.
The skeleton of fish was next dis.
closed. This reminded Mr.. Campbell
that physicians use the package de-
partment in forwarding parts OF the
human skeleton to brotherpractitioner
Last week the examiners were almost
driven out Of the Office by very ill
smelling section of lung.
All varieties of lymph and germs are
sent through the postoflice, although
they come under the head of the pro
hibited One day last spring one Of
the assistants nearly had spasm when
he discovered that he was handling a
bottle of diphtheria germs, One day
four bottles of germs passed through
the office.
1t is against the rules TO allow bills
TO go through the Office accompanying
fourth class matter. package Of
newly purchased goods, bill and all. is
presented by the postman with the de-
mand for letter postage on the entire
package. Even Postmaster John
Wanamaker was thus caught violating
the rules last winter.
When the chameleon fad was al it's
height the examiners were driven
almost crazy. From nearly every other
box they opened there hoped out a
lively lizard, and when the animal
escaped, as at first they did. there was
lively scramble about under desks
and over mail bags. Occasionally in
the winter some New Yorker will mail
from Florida an infant alligator to his
family. Snakes embalmed in alcohol ;
IN fact, all sorts of geological specimens
60 through the mails, besides dead
birds, stuffed and otherwise.
IONS of love letters pass through the
package department These are The
missives that are being returned hy
quarrelling sweethearts, and are for
some reason always tied with blue
ribbon. The men Of Supt. Campbelrs
force claim that the Young women
clerks peruse these billets-doux with
the most absorbed interest. This tbe
young women Indignantly deny. II is
2 sad commentary on the avariee of th,
New York girl that diamond rings ARE
seldom returned with the letters.
Boxes of flowers mailed through The
otiice often are accompanied by feryid
notes, expressing undying devotion
md sometimes even soaring into lame.
winged verse in honor of the alorrd
one. The box has been sent AZ fourth.
class matter, hut when the note is dis.
covered the entire package is CHARGED
IS flrst class matter, and the fair re.
slpients must pay the excess. This
does not tend to endear the sender "a
ihe heart.
One of the odd gifts that passed
through the office was an orange. sent
oy a man in Florida to some one whC
aad befriended him, A note accom.
panied the orange. and the fruit was
yrapped-in what do you think?-a s5C
bank note. On the payment 10 thf
'ostman Of 13 cents postage due, the
lift was reduced TO Sig. 81. a rcouls,
bargain counter figure, fact that
would doubtless have much mortified
he sender.
Many South American cities ma
ronize the parcel post entirely in eX.
mango One days record for Bogota
md Barranquilla weighed ij mounds,
epresenting several thousand dollars
Any amount of diamonds and nearle
o through the office. Some are In rha
orm OF unset gems being sent ont Of
avn by local jewelers.. Nothing ba4
yer been stolen by the employees Mr
Winters, who has been in the office go
ears, says that in all that time therp
as not been the record Of a single
heft.
A few months ago :, den of green
oods men were discovered in a cigar
tore not far from Forty -thTd street
man who had owned a Western farm