Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-04-21
OFFICIAL PAUL PRYS.
POSTAL SNEAK THIEVES OF THE
FRENCH GOVERNMENT.

Delicate Methods Employed by Them In
Ouepine Letters-With g Little Patience
They Overcome Gum, Sealing Wax or
Metal Fastener.
The incident which occurred in the
French chamber concerning the viola
ton of the secrecy of letter addressed
to NJ. Delcasse by high official OF the
ministry Of marine has stirred the pub
lie, which is surprised that such pro-
ceedings take place under the third re-
public Created in 1880, the cabinet
noir was a permanent office under
Louis Philippe and Napoleon III. who
used and abused it in order to learn the
political secrets of their opponents. 1t
was generally believed by the public
that the office had long been suppressed
by the present government. But after
the incident mentioned those who still |
believe in the secrecy of the post, Of the
telegraph or Of the telephone exhibit an
incredible credulity which is extremely |
rare at this fiji do steele. Those who
are so imprudent as to write their in !
most thoughts concerning any politician
in power will lie wise TO longer to i'm
agine that letter which arrives at its
destination apparently unopened has
not been read by third party. As is
well known, it is also easy for an Off
cial to learn the secrets Of the telephone
by applying his ear to the receivers at
the central office, and by SO doing to
intercept phrases which are both in
structive and amusing. 1t now appears
that the postoffice officials also give
themselves up to the delicate pleasure
of satisfying their curiosity.
They employ 20 different methods in
order to assuage their professional in
quisitiveness. If an envelope is closed
in the ordinary manner by thin layer
Of gum, they have the choice of two
systems-when the paper is tough and
strong they slip with great precaution
very thin but not cutting blade be-
| tween the two gummed parts, and with
a little practice they are soon able to
separate the paper without any tear;
when the envelope is thin and brit
| tie they open it by the primitive and
| homely means of steam. These proceed
ings are extremely simple, and the cor
| respondence Of many masters and mis-
tresses has often been slyly treated in
the same way by an inquisitive domes-
| tic. This industry requires very little
skill, and the cnly capital necessary is
q small amount Of patience. The more
| suspicious individuals fasten their let
tiers with sealing wax and imagine that
they are consequently perfectly safe
from any surreptitious attack. The
officials CT the cabinet noir, however,
are net 80 easily defeated. BY Judi
ciously bending and twisting the Part
Of the paper surrounding the seal they
gradually detach the latter, which final
" remains up broken in their hands with
a very thin layer Of paper adhering to
it. After examining the contents Of the
letter they replace the seal intact at the
exact place which it previously cccu-
pied, and both the sender and receiver
of the letter remain i'll blissful igno-
rance Of their maneuvers.
| Other correspondents, even more sus-
picious, are net satisfied with gum and
wax, hut supplement them by small
} metal fastener, which is guaranteed by
its inventor to render any tampering
with a letter impossible. This although
its efficacy is far from that promised by
the staticners, certainly complicates the
work Of the int1uding official. He rises
to the Circumstance, however, and after
carefully removing the stamp and max
i t,n frOTN
which it has been removed he intro
duces q email steel instrument with {
special hook st the extremity. This
hook grips a corner Of the letter, and by
carefully twisting the sheet round the
| stem Ct the instrument it can be finally
extracted without any apparent injury
If by chance the note paper is refractory
and cannot be twisted owing to its stout
ness, the operator cuts the entire length
of one side Of the envelope. The con
D tents arc easily obtained in this man
ner, but the reclosing CT the envelope
requires much delicacy Of workmanship
and is, i'll fact, almost worthy OF al
artist. About a millimeter Of each O.
. the cut edges is carefully folded inward
gummed and pressed together until dry
? This phase Of the work, although rattle.
difficult to novice, is soon acquired b,
practice.
There are many other tricks employ
: ed, some Of which speak volumes fo
human ingenuity. It sometimes hap
pens, nevertheless, that q letter b.s,aSie
{ all the skill and experience Of the en- tir
7 department. In that case their mean
are rough and ready-they suppress i
altogether. The exterior appearance O
3 the letter addressed 10 N. Delcasse be
4 trayed the work Of the Cabinet Noir
Q This proves net lack Of skill of these il
, trusted with such al important but un
$ derhand duty, but simply negligence.
i London Globe.
. The Critic Answered.
: An acute critic calls attention t