Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-23
ODD THINGS IN THE MAIL
Some Of the Ouriosities Which Are Found
In Packages
Efforts to Escape Letter Postage,
Which Are Detected as
q Rule.
From the New York Times,


'They even serd-but can't tell all they
do send-the funniest things"
1t Is very interesting work that is done at
the post Office by Miss Daisy James, the
discoverer of the Roosevelt sawdust-filled
bomb" There is such a variety of things
besides bombs that she can hardly name
them.
This matter viii make people open their
eyes, think" she said yesterday. speaking
to reporter about the bomb and her
work. People do not realize that all the
unsealed packages they send through the
mails are opened.
Eyes. 1t Is really very interesting, al
though sometimes 1t Is little monotonous
when we open package after package with
out finding bit Of writing. 1t Is the writ
Ing we look for. We are making money for
Uncle Sam. Sometimes there is s14 or SIS
charged up in extra postage in day.
Now. there is a photograph with let
ter around 1t. Letter postage will have to
be paid on them There is pair of glasses
inciosed with letter Letter postage viii
have to be paid on them also. The glasses
are gold bowed.
1--WE have very valuable things PASS
through our hands-diamond rings that are
sent to jewellers to have the stones securely
fastened; then there are loose stones
pearls. diamonds and sapphires-evideutly
sent from jeweler to some Maiden Lane
firm.
Then. when an engagement Is broken
and the ring Is returned,it goes through our
hands If 1t is not prepaid at letter rates as
tirst-class matter.
1--WE get all the love letters, too The
young lady sends back those she has re-
ceived and the gentleman returns hers.
II opened package this morning marked
Dynamite No, it did not frighten me.
for it was a pasteboard box. People would
be apt to send a substance like dynamite in
a tin or wooden box. Them I could smell
an apple. Inside the box was line Of
writing-'Don't let any one get this.
'You didn't, did you?" asked Mr.. Chase,
superintendent of the unavailable matter
department, with laugh.
well, they had to pay letter postage for
it." said Miss James.
"a great many people send dead birds
and animals of all kinds to taxidermists by
mall said MIR. Chase.
Don't they smell dreadfully?" interpo-
lated Miss James.
when they are too bad" continued Mr..
Chase. land I have to dispose Of them.
keep the wrapper and notify the person to
whom the package was directed. If pack
age is in paSsable condition I send word
to have it called for.
"Revolvers and firearms cannot be sent
through the mails unless they are in de-
tached pieces. When l receive one notify
the person to whom 1t is sent to call for it,
If he Is at distance and cannot do that,
upon his written order will notify an ex-
preSSman to take it.
This Is one of the many kind courtesies
extended to citizens by Uncle Sam and bis
assistants.
people send dead rats and mice by mall.
women sometimes. The men do not get all
the fun
you don't mean to say that any one
would send woman a dead mouse by
mail?" asked the reporter.
Certainly" replied Mr. Chase.
81 suppose they know how afraid women
are of them, dead or alive" said Miss
James
IAN the packages not prepaid at letter
rates that are mailed in this office we ex-
anime" said Mr.. Chase I'VE also ex-
anime all that come into this office for
New York city delivery, and letters in
transit coming to us through the railway
mail service.
mo sharp-pointed instruments are per-
nitted in the mails, unless properly pre-
pared Fluids and bottles must be properly
packed, and nothing having a noxious odor
can be sent through the mails. Matches
and all explosives are 1ebarr4d:. Candy can
go by mali if properly put up.
Berries and traits Of all kinds come
through the mails in various stages of de-
compositon.'' said Miss James. "and dead
flowers. There are beautiful flowers some
times. All kinds of wearing apparel come
to u.s. and now and then we find in.
package a long letter. The sender lever
thinks any one in the post Office will find
the letter. But we do, and then, If only
- cents mas DetE pitpdlu oi pdChdSe
that weighs ninety ounces, 80 cents more
will have to be paid to meet the cost by
letter weight. 1t is cheaper to send letters
by themselves
"Any one who sends a letter that way"
said Mr.. Chase, 'is subject to fine of SO
1t Is not often that any one IS finsd, but
1t is sometimes done IL any one refuses
to pay the extra postage the matter Is
pressed and the fine collected"
CLOTHES and books are some Of the
things which weigh heavily, and are ex-
pensive when sent with letter in the
package" said Miss James. "Pincush-
ions are very heavy, also.
1--WE never consider as writing congrat-
ulations or good wishes when sent with
presents. but a single line of personal in
formation or anything of that kind sub
jects the package to letter postage. Bible
texts, which are sometimes sent with pack
ages, we do not count as writing.
"Soiled handkerchiefs are some of the
unpleasant things people mall Some kinds
of packages that come through the mails
day after day from the same persons we
become accustomed to and know just what
send out great many pipes, and there is
never any writing with them.
Lots of snakeskins come here, but I
do not mind handling them 1 am afraid
of snakes. 1 do not know what I should
do If 1 met real live snake, but I al
ways unroll the skins to see how long
they are. Sometimes the snakeskins are
very lorg-four or five yards. The rattle
snake skins have the rattles on them.
1.-The other morning little dead dog
came in the mails. 1t was only a puppy,
two or three inches long, and was very
cunning"