The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-03-20
Uncle Sans Mail.

Some of the postal regulations of
our country are very odd. Alligators,
dead or alive, cannot lawfully pass
through the United States mails.
However, if stuffed they are mailable:
Horned toads and other kinds of
toads, as we'll as frogs, are in no case
accepted by Uncle Sam for transporta-
tion.
Live bugs are excluded likewise.
At the same time, all sorts of insects
are constantly sent through the mail
by entomologists, usually in tin boxes,
living. Many are forwarded to the
department of agriculture from all
over the country.
Cocoons, representing insects in one
of the stages Of their development,
though strictly speaking alive, are ad-
mitted to the mails.
Aspecial legislative provision allows
bees to be sent by post in wooden box
es constructed in a peculiar fashion,
with sliding lid and bit Of wire
screen to prevent the occupants from
escaping. In this way honey bees are
shipped all over the world, and even
as far as from this country to Austria
liza. They are admitted to the United
States free of duty, as animals i'm
ported for breeding purposes.
Dead bugs of all sorts are accepted
by the government for mailing, if dry.
For example, dried grasshoppers will
pass. If the farmers of the West ever
learn to utilize grasshoppers for food
as is done elsewhere in the world, they
may be shipped in parcels by Uncle
Sans post.
For reasons unexplained, an excep-
tion is made against tarantulas, which,
alive or dead, are excluded. This is
simply name given to certain large
trap door spiders in southern latitudes,
some of which make small birds their
prey. Ordinarily spiders are permit
ted to go through, if dry and properly
packed.
All kinds Of lizards are unmailable
whether alive or dead. If stuffed they
are not refused however.
Eggs are absolutely unmailable. So
are explosives, poisons and intoxicat-
ing liquors. A like prohibition applies
to bad smelling things of whatever
description.
The bacteria of cholera and other
disease germs are not accepted Tor
mailing. Nowadays doctors breed such
germs in their laboratories, and send
them about by express or otherwise.
Doubtless bottled consumption, ty-
phoid fever and diptheria travel over
the world pretty extensively by post,
undetccted by officials.
1t is unlawful to split postal card
and write inside of it. That is to say,
a card.so treated is not perm tied to
pass for one cent. 1t is only 1nailable
at letter rates.
Two persons in the United States
have the franking privilege for life
namely, the widows of President Grant
and President Garfield. Letters and
packages sent by them are free and
require no stamps. Also parcels and
letters sent to them 60 without pay
ment and need no stamps.
Uncle Sam makes big money by
sending letters to foreign countries.
The business costs him only about
100000 per annum, and he gets
81, 10000 for the postage. 1t is very
likely that the tariff will be reduced to
two cents an ounce before long it is
five cents now.
An cdd point about the internation-
al postal system is that registered let
ters may be recalled by the senders at
any time before they are actually de-
livercd. Not long ago German bank
sent securities representing a large
sum of money to a firm in New York
city. Soon afterwards the bank learn
ed that the New York firm was insol-
vent and on the point of bankruptcy,
the news being received by cable: A
cable message was sent without delay
to intercept the securities on their
arrival at New York, and the register
ed letter containing them was returned
unopened to the bank. Great Britain,
however, does not permit this privi-
lege, holding that when person has
mailed letter, it must be considered
the property Of the address.