The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-11
LOVERS IN TROUBLE.
Used n Government Penalty Envei-
ope for Private Purposes.
From the PhiladeIphIa Ledger.


From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Washington, July THE government
penalty envelope has been nearly respon-
sible for a serious domestic tragedy. Those
who have received official communica-
tions in these unstamped pieces of sta
tionery are familiar with the notice print
ed on the upper right-hand corner. In
forming the reader that that there is a
penalty for private use" Of $500. This
penalty, as every one is supposed TO
know. is applicable only to those who
use the envelopes for transmitting through
the mails private correspondence at the
expense of the government, and 10 evade
the payment of postage. There has here-
tofore been no record of an incident such
as that which has recently come from
Nebraska, resulting from the first re-
ceipt of an enclosure In a penalty envel-
ope, and which has just been happily clos
ca by semi-oficial action of Secretary
Morton.
Henry Schweitzer, who lives in Jeffer-
son county, in that state, is young
German who has been only five years in
this country. He is, therefore, natural
ly more or less unfamiliar with official
red tape. For the first time in his life
he received several weeks ago from WASH
ington an agricultural department bul1e-
TIN enclosed in an official envelope. The
envelope also contained a return postal
card, upon which the receipt of the public
document was to be acknowledged. Both
clause, Whlch was, unfortunately, over
looked by Mr.. Schweitzer at the time
The young man has a best girl. Elated
at receiving an official communication
from the government, which he evidently
considered a mark of special distinction
he hastened to lay the matter before his
sweetheart She was plainly as much
interested as her lover, and after SPELL
ing out the stereotyped autograph Of j.
Sterling Morton on the return postal card
asked her betrothed to sit down with her
a
the trouble began for young Schweitzer.
Paper being scarce, the. young man used
the official envelope for keeping score and
his hancee utilized the return postal for
the Same purpose.
When 81 points had been scored by the
young woman to the 10 of Mr.. Schweitzcr
the startling discovery of the penalty
clause was made. on both envelope aud
postal card, distigured by the Casino
letters the suggestive inscription, Pen
atty for private use $780," Mr.. Schweit-
zer's betrothed was the first to espy the
fatal line and to call the attention OF her
lover to it, Both reiuctantiv agreed thai
scoring casino" upon ofhcal envelopes
and postal cards was private use" of
laid themselves liable to a combined pen
atty of $500 on account of their folly The
young lady declared that unless the gov
eminent could be placated all Thoughts
poned. She persuaded her anguished lover
TO write to the Secretary of Agriculture,
SApAdiuiuE tue circumstances ana urging
him TO show clemency. Mr. Schweftzer
was greatly embarrassed, because he fear
ed that information of the unwilling
crime committed by himself and his fan
Gee might come to the ears of the young
lady's parents. both of whom il seems
are opposed to the match. He set brave
~ to work. however, to patch matters IN.
and wrote under date of June q to SEES
rotary Morton, enclosing the tell-taIe on
velope and card with the Casino score
upon each, and pleading on account OF
his love that the matter might be drop
ped.
The letter of the honest German is as
follows:
Jansen. Junius, 95-To Mr. Morton, Sec
rotary of Agriculture, Washington-Dear
Sir: hardly know how to commence this