The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-28
POSTAL EXPERIMENTS.
Department Trying New Schemes On
Washington.
COLLECTING CARTS AND SALE OF
STAMPS BY CARRIERS.

The Terrapin and Turtle Business at the
CapItaI-Some Interesting Facts About
Korea-Good Word for President Whit
man.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26-The people of
Washington enjoy some special advant-
nees in the matter of post office facilities
from the tact that they are so near the
seat of government. If any pleasant ex-
periment is to be tried, 1t is quits likely
TO begin with the people of Washington.
The postoffice now Is running about the
streets OF the city ono or more large
buses, fitted up in manner similar to
postal car of the railway mail service.
In the bus may be seen two or three men
sorting the mail which the bus picks up
from the street letter boxes. In this way
the delivery and forwarding of letters is
undoubtedly greatly facilitated. Anoth-
er plan which it is proposed to try in
Washington, is the sails of postage stamps
through the letter carriers. AT present
one must buy all postage stamps at the
central or the outpost Offices, or at the
drug store. Under the new plan the
Esoney is given to the carrier. and on his
nsxt trip he leaves the stamps. This
plan is to be tried experimentaIly in
Washington. and if it proves satisfactory
may be extended to other cities.
There are seyeralsplaces in Washington
known as "oyster depots'' where oysters
are handled by the barrelfui. In the show
windows of one of the largest of these
depots, are mum bers of turtles and ter
rapin tumbling clumsjly about in dry
moss or sesweed. The dealer, who seem
to be on intimate terms with his hard
shelied friends, fondling one of them as
he talked, gave your correspondent some
interesting information about them.
Both the turtle and the terrapin are
taken from the salt water. They are
found in the "sluiceways" and are
caught by fishermen, who go out IN
boats and drive them up onto the land
where they are easily captured. 1t would
be impossible to catch them in deep
water, as they drop to the bottom. The
terrapin Ia, Of course, more valuable
than the turtle, the finest specimen of
the.turtle seldom bringing over dollar
while the smallest of the terrapin is
worth at least four dollars.
The terrapin lives only in clean places
and eats only clean food. Ii Is never
found in foul waters or near waste de-
posits. 1t is sometimes necessary to keep
"a few through the summer as there is
demand for them only in the winter
months. They are put into pen with
q few inches Of water and fed on soft
sbelled crabs and oysters, and become so
tame that they will take an oyster from
the hand. They eat enough through the
summer to last them all winter when
they require no food.
A lady who has aquaintances in Korea,
gave the PRESS correspondent some in
teresting facts about the country and the
life of her daughter there.
The government is an absolute mon
archy, consequently human life ia not
highly valued. AS in China, there is
much corruption among the high officials
of the court, "The desire for office is not
a psculiarity of the Koreans but they
have no other ambition save that ole. ;"
So says editorially the principal news
paper of Seoul. "The squeezing, crook
edness, coHardliness and servflity OF
officials is dus to the way in which they
receive -,,sshs appointments and the way
in whtss they will probably be dismissed.
The systsm compels man to BIS dish on
est, to be coward, to be hypoorite,
and to be cruel"
The king is man of intelligence and
some education. The queen who was
assassinated By the japanese about a
year ago, was we'll educated woman Of
remarkable ability. Since her death, the
king and court have occupied the Rus
sian Legation as protection from the
Japanese.
There are educational institutions in
the country, but the masses OF the people
are not only ignorant, but, according to
our American friend, lower than she
ever imagined human beings could be.
The soil is fertile but little is cultivated
beside rice. AS soon as @ tree grows to
any size it is cut down for fire wood,
SO scarce is fuel altho' there are rich FOCAL
mines which have never been opened.
The Seoul Independent OF Nov. 10 states,
however, that grants for railroads have
been given to an American and
French company, with the opening of
the mines in view.
There Is no word in the Korean Ian
guage for butter and milk Is little used.
The COWS are shod and used es beasts of
burden. The natives live on rice and
kind of fermented pickle mado from
cucumbers and peppers. Occasionally
they indulge in little suet which is
considered a great delicacy. go much so,
that q mrrsel is thoroughly chewed, then