Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-17

across the sea some tender lovers mes
sage or perhaps a little flower picked
ffom the daisied grave of an English
caurchyard. Every hour of every day
the commonplace mail bag is packed
with the secrets of life, words which
Waken love and laughter, and words
which deepen the furrow in the cheek
and dim the failing sight with bitter
tears.
But with all this there is going on
through the mail service a dissemina-
tfon of human knowledge, reaching
out of human help which is one OF the
crGWninG blessings OF our century.
The correspondence schools led by
Chautauqua, are sending to every vii
lage and hamlet the broader knowledge
which us SO eagerly craved by many
who are shut in to the hoqnely duties of
humble life. Without the mail sys-
TEN this plan of education would be
utterly non-eXistent.
Every mail. too, carries from the
great centers, the advice of great
physicians, which it would be impos-
sible for the distant public to obtain
We're it not for the mails. Few people
realize how many thousand people de-
'NiA' wa thC liioiI SclN ICE IpT lneU1Cll
treatment. Not long ago when some
postal affairs were being discussed IN
connection with the erection of the new
postollice building in Buffalo, n. Y,
some light was thrown on this subject
by the statement that the mail by DR.
X. V. Pierce amounted daily to some
thing over 1900 pieces. OF course this
IS not common case, because DR.
Plerces relation as chief consulting
physician to Buffalos famous institu-
ton, The Invalids' Hotel and Surgical
institute, makes his advice and that of
his staff of nearly score of skilled
and experienced specialists much
sought after, especially by women TO
the treatment and cure of whose special
diseases, DR.. Pierce has devoted over
80 years of almost constant labor
But though this example is out of the
ordinary, it may serve as an evidence
OF the amazing benefits reaped by the
public from the mail service. 1t
puts every outlaying hamlet in touch
with the most advanced medical
specialisfn of the day. Il gives at the
cost OF a tWo-ce'nt stamp. the skill and
experience that it has taken years to
acquire. Literally ali the cost of a two
cent stamp, since DR.. Pierce invites
sick women to consult him by letter
without charge. And this would seem
to DE one of the most remarkable ser
vices rendered by the postal system.
perhaps the supreme service of all
For while it is splendid thing to be
able to shop in New York while living
IN Kansas, and a grand thing to be
able to command the learning of great
professors while working in the Michi-
gan woods, it is still grander thing
that 10y means of this cheaply supplied
service men like DR.. Pierce, who have
the disposition to be helpful are en-
a'bled to place their skill and knonyl-
edge. at the disposal of those who are
being dragged down by disease, with
out the possibility of help from those
about them. When one contemplates
the vast and far reaching benefits of
| the mail service, SO briefly touched
upon in this article, it makes the IA
| milar gray uniform of the postlnan.
| the most glorious of all uniforms. for it
| is worn by the soldiers of the army of
| peace. 1t makes one feel like taking
his nat off to the crushing mail train.
and cheering the work and wisdom of
| Uncle Sam.