The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-04
That the LOCal Postmaster
Is Asked by Mail.
Inquiries About Future of
NarraganSett Hotel.
Some Letters That Ciused Fire 10
Flash From Women's Eyes.

Queer communications are frequently
received at the postoilice addressed TO the
postmaster. They seek all sorts OF IN
formation and some Of the matters in
quired about are amusing. AT present
the hulk Of the information seeking mali
is from hotel proprietors and keepers In
various parts of the country. They
want To know who Is running the Nara
gansett Hotel since the death of Lewis
Ii. Humphreys, and what change there Is
likely 20 be in the future.
The late Mr. Humphreys lease of the
hotel will expire in the fall and until
that timc there will probably he no
change in the conduct of affairs at this
big hostery. Mr.. Humphreys had sys-
tematized his business so perfectly that
the hotel about the same as runs itself.
The various heads of departments are re-
sponsible for their individual part of the
work and Mrs Humphreys brother,
Henry A. Davis, steward Of the hotel, has
supervision OF affairs, much the same as
he did before the death OF Mr. Humph-
reys. There is no report OF change,
aud there Il no one at the hotel that
knows II any departure from the usual
run Of events. What Mr.. Charles Fletcher.
who owns the property, will do on the
expiration of the present lease, Is mat
ter OF conjecture. This IL what News
reporter told Assistant Postmaster Walker
this morning, and the communications
from the various hotel men Will be
answered accordingly.
Thereiis no rule In the postal depart
ment compelling the postmaster TO an
swer these communications, but he fire.
quently does IL as a matter OF accolnmo-
dation IL "a postage stamp Is enclosed.
Yesterday he received a letter from the
West csking him to send the names of
six of the leading hotels at Rocky Point.
This document was forwarded TO Manager
Harrington as the person most likely TO
know the names OF the Rocky Point ho-
tells.
A few nights ago he received letter
from ST. Louis requesting him TO send
the names OF the best hotels in Providence,
stating how many kept opon during the
winter and the most popular houses dur
ing the summer. Tho communication
made IL apparent that the writer in ~.
Louis was of the opinion that the second
Tost important city in New England
was a summer resort. What is famey
But the queerest of all the experiences
come from indignant women who have
been called bad names In anonymous let
tiers. The aggrieved females seem 10 he
Of the opinion that the postmaster has ia
oiities for finding out. Offenders without
the least trouble and the power To punish
them forthwith.
few days ago fine looking woman,
perhaps 80 years OF age, visited the post
masters sanctum with an open letter In
her hand. Ii was signed =" An observer,
and it warned the receiver that IL her hus-
band knew that she was frequent Wis
itor To houses on Pine and Page streets
there might be trouble at her home Her
conduct was disgraceful and this warn
ing came ere IL was too late for her 10
mend her ways. This was slander and
she wanted the postmaster TO pull the
offender up with round turn. She said
bn xyn
mother of grown up daughters and what
would they think IL such reports came to
their ears. She was never on Page or
Pine streets i'm her life and didn't even
know where they were.
She was highly indignant when the
postmaster informed her that anyone
could write what they pleased in a sealed
letter so long as IL was not obscene, and
that he had nothing To do with persons so
inconsiderate as to send slander through
the mails. She was doubly indignant
when she was referred To the United
States District Attorney who informed
her that she would have TO produce evi-
dence TO convict the sender Of the letter.
Another indignant woman wanted the
postmaster TO wreak vengence on "A person
who MAS mean enough To send letter un'
signed 1t stated that il she did rot stop
attracting Mr.. Darling's attention from
his family and devote moro attention 10
her own the neighborhood would hear Of IL
and there would be "A scandal that would
give that part % the city lad reputation.
There was fire in this womnns eye and
it was plainly apparent that there would
be hair pulling without ceremony, II
the receiver should meet the sender Of
that particular letter
All sorts of family troubles are brought
TO light in this way. Some Is true, but
most of the miserable stuff Is sent for the
purpose of making mischief. The post
Office authorities have no power To punish
such offenders so long as they do not
transgress the law with obscene matter.
Hundreds OF these anonymous communi-
cations are received illustrating some Of
the peculiarities or debased human nature.