St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-04-24

fair. There is also model of the first
American steamer that ever crossed the
Atlantic with United States mail-the
old side-wheeler The Southern. Heavy
dew, it is said, will float the fat-bottom
river steamer Ocklawaha, which carried
mails on the river of that name, and of
which there is also model. A complete
postofice car, 10 feet long, or one.sixth
of the actual size, is also an object of
interest
Mr.. Slack takes great interest in his
models of carriers and postal clerks at
tired in regulation uniform, because they
were so much trouble to dress. The
special delivery boy, mounted on bicycle,
was more trouble than all the others put
together, and it is a good thing he sleeps
with his clothes on. Very swell looking
fellows are the Swede letter carriers in
their complete uniforms. The one whose
route lies between Sweden and Norway
carries sword, revolver, bugle, passport
book, and lot Of other paraphernalia.
All the foreign uniforms, equipments,
and photographs were donated to the
department.
The method of transporting the maiin
winter between Sault Ste. Marie and
Mackinaw, Mich, is represented by three
dogs harnessed to a sleigh, on which are
strapped the mail bags. THERE'S model
of the attendant, big Canadian Indian.
The dogs whose skins have been stuffed
were in actual service three years ago,
one of them being three-fourths wolf.
Many interesting objects are included
in the exhibit of articles which found their
way into the dead letter office. There is
big rattlesnake, mailed alive, which is
about six feet long, two inches thick, and
has nine rattles; centipede, which was
mailed alive wrapped up in newspaper;
a human skull, sent to Prof. S. D. Gross
Of Philadelphia eight years ago, and re-
fused by him because there was So. 10 due
in postage, the package having been
sealed against inspection; Big Brave
Spotted VOLTS hat and anklets; an In
dian scalp lock; an ordinary stick of
wood, four feet long; dynamite bomb,
1S inches long and four inches diameter;
set Of false teeth a bladder full of
snuff; genuine diamond ring, and many
other queer things.
The collection OF postage stamps per-
haps the finest in the world. They are
mounted in frames, with hand painted
ornamentation. The museum has the
first sheet OF Columbian two-cent stamps
ever printed, which fact is attested by
the signatures OF Assistant Postmaster
General Hazen and the president of the
American Bank Note Company. There
is also small frame OF postmarks used
by the Mexican government during the
Macmillan period in place of postage
stamps, the dies being in possession of
the revolutionists. This collection is
valued at $500.
The foreign exhibit is very large and
complete, including uniforms, equipments,
models and photographs connected with
the postal service of Mexico, Canada,
Australia, Egypt, India, Japan, Belgium
Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Germany,
Great Britain and other countries. In
the miscellaneous department are many
other interesting objects, including sill
yer dollar, pasted over with paper, and
mailed as if it had been a postal card.
On one side is affixed the stamp and the
address: "To the director of the U. S.
geological survey" On the other is the
simple request: "Send copy Of topo-
graphical methods"
There is also a collection of tags and
medals taken from the collar OF Owney,
the dog which went around the world
by mail, and the mutilated mail bag
which the Apaches took from F. M.
Peterson, who carried the mail between
Chittenden and Lochiel, July %, 1885,
the carrier being murdered.
In the courtyard adjoining the museum
stands the old mail coach used years ago
in Montana, in which President Garfield
and Arthur both made trips, and in
which Gen. Sherman covered 10S miles
in eight hours on a tour of inspection.
1t was captured by the Indians several
times, being recaptured the last time by
Gen. Howard after hot pursuit.