The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-25
CHRISTMAS TIMES
AT THE POSTOFFICE



raft doesn't look out ne will get himself
into trouble 1t was learned yesterday
that he has been for several days in
tercepting letters that were mailed at the
Salt Lake postoffice Il will shock the
community. to learn that after serving
his Uncle Sam for Is months, during
which time no shadow of a suspicion has
attached to his administration, Mr.. Bar
raft has been caught red-handed in
violation of the postal laws by actually
intercepting letters. And it's a clear case
against him. too, for he admitted it him
self yesterday Actually admitted that
some two or three hundred letters will
never reach the persons TO whom ad-
dressed, because he intercepted them.
g 81 @
The letters were all addressed in crude
handwriting which suggested that the
authors had not progressed beyond the
kindergarten, or at most beyond the
first grade of the common schools, in
their pursuit of an education. II may be
that Mr. Barratt will plead this fact in
justification of his action, If the should
Eave-been recipients ever hear of what
he has been doing and decide to take
him up but they win be frustrated if he
does, for though the addresses are very
crude the names of the persons for whom
they were intended are plainly to be
traced in the scrawl as Santa Claus, st:
Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Pere Noel and all
the various pseudonyms of Santa Claus.
according to the nationality of the writer
@ @ 8
The letters began coming in more than
dressed to the city, but in many instances
the North Pole was the infantile idea OF
the abode of Santa Claus, while others
were addressed to 1.-The Mountains.
One youngster with pratical turn of
mind who was apparently old enough to
be acquainted with the scarcity of rein
deers in these parts, addressed his letter
to Antelope Island. as though under the
impression the genial old fellow, making
virtue a necessity, would start from there
and drive some of the buffalo that were
lnf led h n n "a n
messy. Bert Brown, ct al
o 8 @
One little fellow came in one day with
his father whom he had brought along,
in person. With cheeks all aglow with
excitement the 4-year-old handed Mr.. Bar
raft his letter. after they had found their
way to his private office.
Harry knew if he gave you the letter"
said the parent ''there would be no
doubt about its reaching its destination,
so he insisted on my. coming along to
make sure he saw you
Harry was assured that the postmaster
knew where to find Santa Claus, and that
he would see the letter reached him, and
the little fellow went away prancing with
delight.
Some of the letters bore no stamps, the
writers stating they had not had the
postage and that their parents couldn t
afford to buy stamps but they thought
if the letter was just left by the general
when he came for his mail.
g @ @
Ore letter written and left on the door
step for tie postman to pick up, and
which was signed Freddie Livingston.
betrayed a philosophic mind. Freddie
had evidently overheard some one talking
politics and had profted by what he had
heard. At all events he didn't take much
stock in Mckinley being the advance
agent of prosperity for he wrote:
Dear Santay Claws:
LAS Mister Macinly was lected don't
spose you will be as well off as if Mister
Brian had bin lected, so / won't ask for
much this year. Just bring me riting
desk and a sled and some candy and
nuts. / wood like some other things, but
I guess you can't afford il.
Freddie wasn't disappointed The post
man saw the envelope, observed the
scribbling and carried the letter away.
Whether he took it to the postofice or
not the writer will probably never know.
g g @
All these letters were sent to Superin-
tendent of the General Delivery Aubrey's
desk. who gets all mail that needs
more accurate address, or that is destined
for the dead letter office. but Mr.. Aubrey.
who is generally equal to the emergency,
shifted the responsibility this time and
sent the letters to Mr.. Barratt who has
had many a moments enjoyment perus-
ing the oddly spelled and written desires
of the little ones.
1--WE have received lots of letters writ
ten to Santa Claus under one name or
another" said Mr.. Barratt yesterday.
1--WE don't bother the dead letter office
with them. but instead ] had them all
sent to me. 1 suppose the little ones
would feel very badly hurt if they knew
their letters went into my waste basket"
g g (.
During the rush at the postoffice and
the express offices incident to Christ
mas. the clerks at the receiving counters
have had many funny experiences and
have probably answered something less
than a million foolish questions. Stamp
Clerk Cunnington and Registry Clerk
Grant We're the butt for the most of them
at the poStoffice. AT first l tried to
answer every question" said Mr.. Gun
nington yesterday, put gave up the
ATTEMPT after I found that about every
woman who appeared at the window had
a useless question to ask and repeated it
in every conceivable form before she
my ears to catch the amount of stamps
they wanted and no more and found |
could wait on great many more people
1.-The chief trouble experienced said
Mr.. Grant, lis that people who want
to register packages will persist in com
ing here before finding, out how much
postage they require and procuring their
stamps. The consequence is that / have
had to repeat Get your stamps, till
have thought seriously of getting a
phonograDh to rest my voice.
g "a o
The funniest story related at any of
the forwarding offices vas told by Super
intendent French of the Denver & Rio
Grande express.
I'VE got on a new man from Denver
to heln out during the rush. said he.
He was new at the work, and as the
first day ne worked was a very busy
one. he was pretty Wei played out when
night came. 1t was about time to close.
and packages We're piled un in front of
him till he couldn't see over them and
he was wondering whether he would
ever get them disposed Of when an old
lady came in, and after looking all
around stopped in the middle of the
floor. He thought she wanted something
ans didn't know how to go about getting
it. so left his work and came out to in !
quire what he could do for her.
:. I was looking for furnished rooms,
she replied.
1.-The poor fellow collapsed. and in a
voica that was actually pitiful to hear,
said:
:. Ny G. lady, you didn't expect them
by express, did your
He had probably answered thousand
just as foolish questions that day."
g . 6.
another good story is told by c. E.
Bennett. who receives packages at the
Pacific express Office. A gentleman
whose nationality WAS not Irish came in
to ship q package TO Glenns Ferry. He
took the trouble to explain that it was a
Christmas present to much-valued
friend. and inquired the charges.
1t will cost you ST. said Mr.. Bennett
after weighing it.
THE shipper threw his hands in the
air and exclaimed: My Got, I can'd
rob de boobies The ever ruling spirit !
of compromise asserted itself, and he /
said: Il dell you vot | do. l bay so cents |
and lets dem bay so cents at de odder !