New-York tribune., 1896-10-29
THAT LOST LETTER.
source.

The missing letter has at last been found.
Chairman Butler has il safely In his posses
sion. and what promised TO he literary mys-
terry rivallng Junius and tho Iron Mask Is
solved. Tom Watson did really write let
ter. he did really mail IT, and it did really. after
long delay. get 10 its destination. Some poo
pie may be inclined TO blame the delay upon
god-bug Postoflice Department and grow in
dignant over the prostitution of the Govern
ment 10 the service Of the trusts. But this
would he unjust POstmastcr-Gencral Wilson
did not use his Office for the suppression Of
WasOn's cloquence The reason that Mr. But
lpr did not get the letter sooner was that 1t
weighed too much Mr.. Watson undercsti-
mated its weight and failed TO use enough
postage stamps.
This. Of course was natural mistake on
Mr. Watsons part. He is man Of modest
and retiring dispositiop and he had no idea
his uttcrapces wcighty they proved
TO bc. Then. besides undertaking tho matter,
he may have msjudgcd the style He was
mad way through. and throwing off words at
white heat with something of the centrifugal
force Of q planet In the days when tho moons
were started on their separate existence. Pre-
vious experience had taught him that his
winged words went flying of thoi own vital
ity. and hc had no reason to doubt that his
letter Of acceptance once turned loose, would
90 scurrying across country TO Chairman But
lor. like q hare before hounds. 4 SO no just
stuck on stamp for good luck and sent this
child of his brain 10 shift for itself.
Then q queer thing happened Which needs
explanation. which Is. indeed. almost as mys-
tcrious as the original mystery: Where is Wat
sons letter? Mr. Butler says he received the
letter Saturday night. II having been de-
tanned at the postOfficc for insufficient postage,
and no notice Of the fact having been sent to
him by the authorities. Now il was most
mnrkable that a letter should lie in the post
Office Of destination for days just because there
was postage due on II. Tho custom Is TO de-
liver such letters with the stamp Postage
Due upon them. and to collect the additional
amount Of the receiver. If no stamp at all was
used the letter would remain at the place of
mailing while card YVES sent to the destna
tlOn calling for stamps. That. however. was
not the case with Mr. Watsons opistlc Though
short in postage. IL had enough TO take il 10 Mr.
Buffers town, but there it was held till its
fine was paid. Why it was detained so long
does not yet appear. Mr.. Butler says that OF
course he expected tha. Mr.. Watson would
make it public without waiting for him to re-
ceive IT, Perhaps he thought It good form to
give Watson plenty Of chance 10 do this, and
so ran and hid himself when he saw the
postinan coming. Then there Is another pain
ful possibility which we dislike TO hint al. 1t
may have been that Mr.. Buffers committee
didn't have the two four cents necessary to
pay the postage. Being proud and self-rcspcct
Ing. though poor. naturally they would not like
TO confess this fact 10 Il miniOn OF the god-bug
POstma stcr General. and so failed to receive let
tcrs which had 10 be paid for We have known
cstimnblc families that went without ncccssa-
rlcs rather than confess they couldn't pay for
them.
Mr.. Butler does not publish the letter. not
withsiandng his surprised regret that Mr. Wat
son did not make II public. He escaped re-
cciving 1t long enough for prominent Popocrats
TO rcques, him To keep still. so the letter re-
mains a secret. This Is 10 be regretted. With
ouf that the mystery Is on'r half solved. TO
make Mr.. Watson change il. as threatened. is
to delay perhaps. til after election. when
POpusm and Watson and Butler will all bc
buried out Of sight. Then nobody will give
brass farthing for the letter, while now It