The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-04-14

frame Is portrait Of cx-rhird Assistant
Postmaster General Hazcn, who was
Tor twenty years in charge of the isSu-
aucc of postage stamps for the dcpart-
mcnt. a fine display is also made of
stamped envelopes issued from 1895 To
1898. and there is Il frainc full of OIL
cinl envelopes Of all issues during that
period. Very many OF these official
envelopes are now used instead of the
old department stamps.
Perhaps the finest collection of for
cign stamps in the world is the one
displayed in this museum i'm eases on
the east ana west walls, cLlSsIneu as 10
The different countries and many of
them grouped i'll artistic.Jcsigns 1t is
noticeable fact that the ma ioritv of
them are on thinner and better paper
| Than ours, and few of them are larger
thin our columbian stamp. With the
exception OF the Great Britain exhibit.
All Tie foreign stamps We're contributed
uncancelcd SO that the individual fcu-
lures are plainly visible, which makes
them all the more valuable as a collec-
ton. BESIDES the contributions of
stamps many Of tho foreign nations
have contributed large exhibits which
show IN detail the workings of their
mail systems, and those form an i'm
portant part OF the museum
Just in front of the door lcndinsr into
the museum room lis - lifa-size repre-
scntntion Of the almost obsolete pony
express. The rider is seated on n life
size horse: he wears a large sonibrero
hat and is dressed in clothes typical Of
the western frontier districts where
thig tvl - al Il
in vogue. The postmun carries large
rcvolvers in his belt Al the rear of
the saddle. and tightly fastened toit.
is the mail bag. This figure of
mounted postmnn represents the man
ner OF mail carrying which prevailed
when Buffalo Bill was II boy, and be-
fore the Pacific railroads spanned the
continent.
Probably the most beautiful object in
the whole collection is the model OF the
great ocean greyhound CITY of Paris,
built at Il cost of 81 900 and donated to
the government for use in this exhibit.
IL rs placed i'll the museum with q model
OF the old Southerncr, which was the
first steamship to carry United States
mail across the Atlantic. \ striking
contrast is formed by the exhibition OF
these models Of the frs, and last of the
ocean mail steamers. There are several
other models of mail ships, and among
them IL a fine specimen of the fiat-bot-
tom steamers which are used in the
shallow waters of Florida
While pleasing picture is formed by
the exhibition of the models of the
City of Paris and the Southcrner. it
might be said that another contrast is
effected in the exhibition of Il rough
toboggan Sled and miniature railway
car, representing probably the slowest
and fastest method OF CARRYING our
mail to-day. These toboggans are used
In Michigan and other northern states
to carry mail over the country when
the land is covered with snow. The
model is realiLtic in shape. The,dors,
three lin number, are stuffed speci-
mems, and saw actual service in, NIichi-
gan, having boon killed 10 bc1cxhibitcd
with the tobDggan ut the worlds fair.
! hey are attended by an Indian wear
ing snowShocS and dressed in clothes
of multifarious colors. The miniature
railway postnl ear is one of the hand
soonest models in the exhibition 1t il
complete III every detail and was built
by the government at a cost of So 900.
1t is one-hfth Of the size OF tile regula-
ton postal car. The top of the model
Is removable TO reveal the inside work
inps Of this swift-moving post Office.
One portion is fitted up with cots and
reserved as a sleeping apartments for
the clerks, while the remainder is filled
with desks, tables, shelves and pouches
to receive the mail as it is distributed.
Miniature electric light lamps are also
shown in the nobel
70 see the exhibit of locks which have
been invented TO protect mail pouches
one would think il impossible for rob.
bcrs toprocurc any booty from railway
mail car even after the train has been
held up and an entrance effected. This