New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-01
OTEER THINGS IN THE MAIL.
ARTICLES AWKWARD AND FRAGILE THAT
HAVE A PERFECT RIGHT TO BE THERE.

HAVE A PERFECT RIGHT TO BE THERE.
Much has been written concerning the queer
things which find their way into Uncle Sans mat
boxes and postoffices. and which have no legal
right be there but little attention has been given
to the hosts of strange articles which may be ana
are lawfully carried every day by the postal au-
thorities. 1t Is not that the things arc uncommon
in themselves but that they seem absurdly map
propriate for transportation by mail, which at
tracts attention to the subject. Most of the unusual
articles belong to the fourth. or package class
of matter but there is one variety which is becom-
ing more common of late of the third class This
Is huge business postal card with an ADVERTISE
ment printed on the back. One specimen recently
received has Business Mems Giant Mail Card
inscribed on its face. and it measures eleven by
seven inches. There is no limit to the size OF such
cards provided they do not weigh over two ounces
each though few larger than the one mentioned
above have yet been 1T Is difficult TO under
stand why any should desire to use card as
big as a billiard table" said postal ohfcial. IN
speaking of the new craze among advertisers. but
as long as the pasteboard is not over weight for It's
class It will go through all right. no matter how
awkward 1t may be to handle.
Precisely the same principle this applies to the
fourth-class matter. Four pounds Is the weight
limit here and unless the package violates some OF
the special rules regarding 'nmailable matter.
which are pretty well known among those who
have much business with the postofice its size and
shape will offer obstacle TO its being passed by
the authorities. Only the owners fear OF having
articles broken In the course of transportation i'm
poses any restriction TO form or material. Thus
II would be perfectly possible TO send large baskets,
the fragile wickerwoIk of which would keep them
within the four-pound limit, If it were not known
that they were likely TO be seriously damaged be-
fore they reached. their journeys end by contact
with a sample of iron ore or some other equally I'M
yielding but mailable substance. Frequently people
unaccu stoned using the mails for this sort of
4, do matt N Qf "A
which their goods will receive. and they discover
later to their sorrow. that breakable things hal
better be carefully packed or not sent at all UNI
breIlas and canes often mailed, and in great
many instances. owing usually TO careless packing.
they reach their destination in several pieces A
stout stick strapped 10 cane or umbrella. Is a
precaution sometimes adopted TO insure its safe
carriage Fishing rods. disjointed and packed Sc
curely In their cases. are often sent by mail. So
are knives and sharp-ponted articles of various
kinds. but these must be capped and fastened SO
Pistols and other firearms may be mailed in de-
sehsd parts but for reasons sns not hard to
The drygoods houses which have large nall-order
fsTough the posoices Than any other Users Of the
mails All kinds OF dressgoods. shoes and small
Espeeisly in holiday Seasons the number Of I'M
usual packages Is extremely large. ..,. -,
carriers are not obliged to deliver any article which
seems to the local postmaster rnreasonably large
addresscc Of the arrival OF the package and re-
quests him to call at the office for It, great deal
OF trouble is caused by having the contents Of
packages become separated from their wrappers,
as they frequently do. The wrapper is duly sent
to the person to whom IL is directed, and the latter
is then expected 10 call at his postoce and give II
he can do So n description of what he believes the
wrapper 10 have contained. When this can be done
the missing contents often identified. either In
the Dead Letter Office in postof'ice
where they have been detained until further infor-
nation could be received In many instances, how
eyer the person who receives the wrapper is
able to tell what the probable contents were. and
clew can be obtained TO the missing articles.