The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-17

THE U. S. M. BL0oMER GIRL.
BICYCLES AND COSTUMES FOR ITS
COUNTRY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

Made Necessary by Special Delivery
Letters-A Thousand Pretty Girls
in Blue Uniforms Speeding With
the Mail Observation-Disclosures Locks
Up and Speeds With "Rfght-Of-
Way"
New York, Jan. 15.-''We are contem-
plating the adoption of a uniform" said
one Of the highest officials of the general
postoffice. "for our women postmasters-
our postmisstresses.
This is brought about and rendered
necessary by the introduction of the
special delivery letter which is now a
distinct and important feature of our pos
tai work
I'm the large cities. where there are let
appointed for the work of the
special letters. These carriers take
the letters as they come in to
the sub-stations and deliver them. They
go on foot, as the routes are short and the
trip is quickly made. But in the smaller
post offices there is no provision made for
the special delivery letter.
Recently a special letter was mailed TO
a remote post Office in Virginia. The post
mistress there received the letter, noted
its special delivery stamp, and set about
having it delivered. Its destination was
a country house two miles distant. 1t lay
along the road where Mrs. Charles Dana
Gibson happened to be visiting, and as she
had plenty of mail, one of her servants
was asked to carry it along. The letter
was delivered to him. He took it home,
and after his MONDAY dinner put it in his
pocket, went for an errand up the road
and finally delivered the letter. some three
hours late. The postmistress explained
that there was no other way of sending the
letter. If she had trusted it to the uncer-
tain mercies of a village boy it might
never have reached it's destination.
kilograms. on the other hand, are diff
ferently managed. The telegraph station
is in the railroad depot and the ticket
agent works the machine. kilograms are
easily sent by some of the hangers-on CT
the depot.
There are upward of a thousand post
mistresses in the United States. They are
in the smallest of hamlets where the pos
dred dollars year, but the letters must
be attended to just as carefully The mail
is small, not enough to pay man for at
tending to it, yet very easily managed by
a woman in connection with her house
hold cares. Miss Louise Imogen Quincy
found it easy to be postmistress and a lit
terateur at the same time. But that was
before the special delivery letter became
so common.
"Our solution of the difficulty is to pro-
vide the postmistress with means of get
ting around the country rapidly. With a
bicycle she could cover five miles of coun-
try in half an hour, if she were even an
ordinary cyclenne, and be back to her post
within an hour from leaving. Most of
the distances are two or three miles, too
long and slow for walking, but very access
sible with a bicycle.
Country postoffices can be closed at
any time, so long as not locked at mail
hours or long enough to arouse the impa-
thence of the villagers. And the postmis-
tress, upon receiving a letter decorated
with the long blue stamp, could lock her
door, mount her wheel and ride away TO
deliver the letter. In this way she could
make her postoffice very important and
eventually lead to more business and an
increase of pay.
"The matter of the bycicle is one easily
arranged. There have been so many
bought by the different departments of
public service that the purchase of the
few needed for the country postnistresses
would be nothing remarkable. But the
complication arises in the matter of Dress
1.-THE postmistresses do not now dress in
uniform. AS they need not go outside of
their postoffice there is no necessity for it,
But as soon as they become carriers this is
changed. They need some distinguishing
mark.
1.-The United States mail is thing that
cannot be delayed. 1t takes precedence
over everything except the fire engine, and
perhaps over that A thorough test case
of the right of way between the United
States mail and the fire department has
never been brought up to the satisfaction
of either party. But the mail has prece-
dence over every other branch of traffic
upon the public highways.
THE bicycle postmistresses would find
uniform very helpful in the delivery of
special letters. Going upon a bicycle
along any road they would be helped and
not hindered by the wearing of the blue
The well-known color, with its touches of
black braiding, would proclaim the errand
of the rider and all would turn out TO /
make way before her.
"In many localities there is still pre- |
JUDGE against the bicyclist. The cad on
casters takes up too much space. He is in
the way. His bell and his light frghten |
horses; he himself has an unpleasant way
of skirting ones wheels at danger OF get |
ting caught in its revolutions. Few drivers |
make room for the 'cyclist; none turn out |
for him
The United States mail, as carried by |
the bicycle postmistress, would arouse in
terest and create respect. People would |
stand still to see her go by; horses would |
pull out for her; the best places |
on the road would open to her; paths |
would be smoothed in anticipation OF her |
coming and front gates would unlock as |
she approached. The promptness with |
which she could deliver the mail would /
convince all Of the policy In making her
way easy.
1.-THE uniform proposed is a loose bloom
er costume, with straight coat This could |
be made Of the material used for letter
carrier suits and decorated in a similar
way. The uniform could be provided at a
low price to all postmistresses.
"lhe matter OF boomers is not absolute
~ arbitrary and could be waved In case of /
great prejudice against It. But those who
want to ride rapidly favor the bloomer cos
tune and the postmistress would find her.
self not al all conspicuous in IT, The fact /
that aha need not Darado in ptihIic In tho |