The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-26

has a new meaning in the light Of the
fact, not generally known, that contests
are quite as likely to be determined ac-
cording to party neeess - as in equity.
No matter how strong a case a sitting
member may have. If he belongs to the
minority IN the house he is quite likely
to be ousted from his seat.
"Politics is a mean business. 50 said
new memb Der to me at the beginning Of
this congress, and quite agreed with
him.
The poor outlook for contests in the
next congress is a source of sorrow to
the mem bers of congress who are liv-
ing in Washington. They get the cream
Of the business as attorneys in contest
cases. In fact, they live on business be-
fore congress and the departments.
A Dead Letter Sale.
Once a year the postofdoe department
has an auction sale. 1t occurs at the
rooms of a local auction house. It is
called the dead letter Office SALE, - and
the articles sold are the contents Of let
tiers and packages which have gone
astray in the mails. Some of them have
been niisdirected. Some have been held
because the postage was not fully paid.
Some have slipped from defective wrap
pings and so lost their identity. When
ever an article of value goes to the dead
letter Office, all reasonable effort is
made to ind its owner. If that is not
successful, the article is held for two
years awaiting a claimant. No one APP
pearing to claim it, it is advertised to
be sold at auction. The postof1ce de-
partment made last year out of the sale
of these articles and from money found
in dead letters nearly SIP, 900. The
dead letter fund is large, and it in
creases every year.
The list of articles being offered at
this years sale, which began yesterday,
is a surprising index of the service to
which the postoffice is put. Here are
some Of the articles which have been
lost in the mails and never claimed:
Razors, razor strops, collars, collar
buttons, cuffs, spectacles, mems and
women's shoes, mems and women's
stockings, hsndkerchiefs Of all kinds.
rings. watches, fountain pens, hoods,
mitts, gloves, ice wool fascinators, neck
ties, spoons, Cancelled stamps, slippers,
embroidered slipper uppers, pooketbOOks,
infants jackets, mems and boys shirts,
shirt waists, dolls, wells, towels, hand
kerchief cases, Ehoestrings, hats, aprons,
feather b0as, shopping bags, scissors.
pens, table covers, toilet cases, maps
mems and women's underwear, cards,
tea, scarfpins, tobacco, ribbons, gloves,
bride bits, hunting knives, doilies. pin
cushions. hairpin cushions, hairpins,
crochet needles, typewriter ribbons, BIZ
cycle handle bars. rosaries, scapulars,
prayer books, suspenders, Bibles, raisiD
seeders, ink bottles, penholders, games,
dress goods, music, pictures, opera glass
es, patchwork, cushion covers, books,
salt cellars, stationery, fans, pillow
covers, powder bags, gartere, bopnets.
matchhOlders, penwipers, toilet soap
music boxes, pipes. salt water bags,
cardcases cuff buttons, medals, truss
es, hypOdermic syringes, pocket lamps,
folding lunohboxes. fur collars, head
rests, picture frames, nutmeg graters,
paper cutters. buttonhOle workers, hair
nets, curling irons, dress stays. spats,
violin sl-ings, bookmarks, beaded moo
casins, tcothbrushes, harmonious, rub
bers, medical appliances. hatbrushes.
postal card cases, spools of thread, bags,
toys, lOrgnettes, wrappers, wire puzzles,
stove bIacNng sets. hose supporters,
chains. cups and saucers, jewelry cases,
castings, huting irons, doll patterns,
cigars, shawls, electrotypes, fountain
syringes, napkins, basques, breastpins,
blankets, printing outfits, cigarette
cases, cigarettes, infants underwear,
braid, jackets, bath brushes, watches,
bib pins. lamp shade covers, reticules,
bracelets, rings. screwdrivers, toy tele-
scopes, policeman clubs, tinseI wire,
horse brushes, trousers. skirts, calen-
dars, diaries, feather bone, siIkworm
gut ligatures, button hooks, barber's
clippers, Confederate bills, banners,
Epworth league and Odd Fellows
badges, atomizers, metrOnomes, picco-
los, revOlvers. football Innings, skates,
bicycle cranks, ballet slippers, pitch
pipes, Trilby hearts, charts, thimbles,
sprocket chains and yarn.
How the Goods Are Arranged.
That's a pretty long list, but it could
be longer. 1t illustrates the variety one
finds at a dead letter auction sale. The
sale is always full of entertainment be-
cause the person who has not studied
the catalogue is surprised continually
by the things which the auctioneer puts
up and knocks down.
The articles are not put up individ-
ually. They could not be sold that way,
because the auctioneer could not get
even 1 cent for some of the things in
the list. Besides, it would take too
much time to sell them that way.
Though dozens of articles are grouped
together under one mum Der, there are
3, 500 miscellaneous lots, 95I book lots
and 10 jewelry lots in the catalogue.
I'm arranging them the auetioneer has
grouped articles that are worthless with
'.arf5p1nc ~uhiob haun q vain Thr7G
pair of small damaged cOrsets is placed
with a towel, some remnants of cloth,
etc. 20 damaged cigars 60 with a cheap