St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-06-08
mail systems, and these form al i'm

mail systems, and these form al i'm
portant part Of tho museum.
Jrst In front Of the door leading ints
the museum room Is a ife-size repre-.
sentation of the almost obsolete pony
express. The rider is seated on life
size horse; he wears largo sombrers
lat and is dressed in clothes typical Of
the western frontier districts where
this style of postal delivery was SO long
in vogue. The postman carries large
reviewers in his belt. At the rear OF
the saddle, and tightly fastened to II,
Is the mail bag. This figure Of Q
mounted postman represents tho man.
ncr of mail carrying which prevailed
when Buffalo Bill was boy, and be
fore the Pacific railroads sranned the
continent.
Probably the most beautiful object In
the whole collection is the model OF the
great ocean greyhound, City OF Paris.
built at cost Of 81, 900 and donated tc
the government for use in this exhibit.
1t is placed in the museum with model
Of the old Southerncr. which was the
ilrst steamship to carry United States
mail across the Atlantic. A striking
contrast is formed by the exhibition Of
these models of the first and last Of the
ocean mail steamers. There are several
other models of mail ships, and among
them is a fine specimen Of the fat-bot-
tom steamers which are used in the
shallow waters of Florida.
While a pleasing picture is formed by
the exhibition of the models Of the
City of Paris and the Southerner, it
might be said that another contrast is
effected in the exhibition of q rough
toboggan sled and miniature railway
car. representing probably the slowest
and fastest method of carrying our
mail to-day. These toboggans arc used
In Michigan and other northern states
to carry mail over the country when
the land is covered with snow. The
model is realistic in shape. The dogs,
three in number, are stuffed speci-
mems, and saw actual service in Michi.
gan, having been killed to be exhibited
with the toboggan at the worlds fair.
They are attended by an Indian wear
ing. snowshoes and dressed in clothes
of multifarious colors. The miniature
railway postal car il one OF the hand
soonest models in the exhibition. 1t Is
complete in every detail and was built
by the government at . cost Of s3 600.
1t is one-fifth of the size Of the regula-
ton postal car. The top of the model
is removable to reveal the inside workc.
ings Of this swift-moving post Office.
One portion is fitted up with cots and
reserved as q sleeping apartment for
the clerks, while the remainder is filed
with desks, tables. shelves and pouches
to receive the mail as it is distributed.
Miniature electric light lamps are also
shown in the model.
To see the exhibit Of locks which have
been invented to protect mail pouches
one would think it impossible for rob
bcrs to procure any booty from railway
mail car even after the train has been
held up and an entrance effected. This
exhibit Is in two large cases In .
separate inclosure are life size repre-
sentations of Q special delivery mcssen-
ger boy mounted on handsome
cushion-tired bicycle, and q city postman
Of to-day wearing the regulation blue
uniform. In case containing illustra-
tions of the service in Sweden is tho
figure of q carrier armed with re-
volver and sword and carrying bugle
and pouches.
On the north wall Is displayed q
series of realistic pictures representing
tho hold-up of California mail coach
which actually occurred. The first
picture depicts the masked bandits
as they emerge from the bushes on the
side Of the road, and covering the pas
sengers with rifles demand the halt OF
the stage. Others In the series show
the passengers In the power of the rob
bers, with their hands up and their
pockets being rifled Of their valuables
There are also q large number OF
frames containing portraits of promi-
nent promoters Of the domestic mail
service, and veteran postmasters and
clerks who havc been identified with
the post offices for many years In the
several cities. These pictures arc ar
ranged In groups according TO the num-
Der Of years which the individuals have
devoted to the postal service. There
arc pictures OF ten veterans VINO have
been faithful servants of the govern
ment for more than half q century and
forty-six who have served for thirty
Eve years. All are frail-loolxing, with
grey hair, and show that time and toll
have relentlessly sapped their strength.
SMITH D. FRY.