Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-05-20
OFFICIAL PAUL PRYs.

OFFICIAL PAUL PRYS.
POSTAL SNEAK THIEVES OF TttE
FRENCH GOVERNMENT.
Delicate Methods Employed by Them In
Opening Let:ers-With u Little Patience
They ovcrcome Gum, Sealing Wax OF
Metal Fastener.
The incident which occurred in the
French chamber concerning the viola
ton of the secrecy of q letter addressed
to NJ. Delcasse by q 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
SuO 44GlVCAu 0lOAlAOACA UuO60 WIN SUl1k
Believe in the secrecy Of the post, Of the
telegraph or of the telephone exhibit an
incredible credulity which is extremely
rare at this fin de steele. Those who
are SO imprudent as to write their in
most thoughts concerning any politician
in power will be wise no longer to i'm.
agine that q letter which arrives at its
destination apparently unopened has
not been read by a third party. As is
we'll 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. It now appears
that the p%ostofice officials also give
themselves up to the delicate pleasure
of satisfying their curiosity.
They employ 20 different methods in
order to essuage their professional in
quisitiveness. II an envelope is closed
in the ordinary manner by a thin layer
Of gum, they have the choice Of two
systems-when the paper is tough and
strong they slip with great precaution
a 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 britt
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 anne way by an inquisitive domes.
tic. This industry requires very little
skill, and the only capital necessary is
q small amount Of patience. The more
suspicious individuals fasten their let.
ters with sealing wax and imagine that
they are consequently perfectly safe
from any surreptitious attack. The
officials Of the cabinet noir, however.
are not go easily defeated. By judi
ciously bending and twisting the part
Of the paper surrounding the seal they
gradually detach the latter. which final.
~ remains unbroken in their hands with
u very thin layer Of paper adhering to
It. Afser examining the contents Of the
letter they replace the seal intact at the
exact place which 1t previously occu-
pied, and both the sender and receiver
Of the letter remain in blissful igno.
rance Of their maneuvera
Other correspondents, wen more sus.
picious, are not satisfied with gum and
wax, but supplement- them by a small
metal fastener, which is guaranteed by
its inventor to render any tamperine
with q letter impossible. This, although
its efficacy is far from that promised by
the stationers, certainly complexities the
work Of the intruding official. He rises
to the circumstance, however, and ate,
carefully removing the stamp and max.
ing . cross cut OIL the square from
which it has been removed he intro.
duces o small steel instrument with
special hook at the extremity. Thil
hook grips q orner of the letter, and by
carefully twisting the sheet round the
stem of the instrument it a be finally
extracted without any apparent injury.
If by chance tho note paper is refractory
and cannot be twisted owing to its stout
ness. tho operator cuts the entire length
of ono side of the envelope. The con
tents are easily obtained in this man
ner, but the reclosing Of the envelope
reuuilcs much de!ioacy of w~orkmsnshi,
and Is, i'll fact, almost worthy Of I'll
artist. About % millimeter of each O.
the cut edges is carefully folded inward
gummed and pressed together until dry.
This phase Of the work, although rathe,
difficult to q novice. issocn acquired b,
practice.
There are many other tricks employ
ed, some Of which speak volumes TO
human ingenuity. It sometimes hap
pens. nevertheless, that . letter battle
all the skill and experience Of the entir,
department. In that ease their mean
are rough aud seady-they suppress 1
~altogether. The exterior appearance Q
the letter addressed 20 n. Deloasse be
trayed the work Of the Cabinet Noir
This proves not lack Of akill Of those in
trusted with such IN important but IN
dsshand duty. but simply negligence
London GlobA.