The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-04

kinds of uniforms worn by mail car
riers in foreign countries. There are
life-life representations Of carriers.
from the almost naked mall runners OF
India to the bejeweled and heavily clad
carrier in Russia. There is a sturdy
little japanese cArrier, with sandals
and well ventilated hat. holding out
letter with a Japanese address. OFF to
one side is the mail carrier Of John
Bull, Respondent in a suit of dark blue
lavishly trimmed with gold braid. Then
there is the mail man from the Scan
dinavian peninsula, with his burden OF
accoutrements. He wears heavy belt,
which carries revolver and metallc
letter box secured by lock and key. He
carries a weighty burden. The rugged
Swiss. with dark blue uniform and yell
low leggings, is the most picturesque OF
them ALL The eye is attracted at once
to the gaudy blue and white uniform
of the Queensland and Cape Colony
carriers.
On one side of the room is life
like representation of mail carrier
in Northern Michigan, who STANDS
whip in hand. driving small sleigh
loaded with mail bags drawn by
team of three doughty little dogs. The
driver is a half-bre and his copper
complexion stands out in relief against
the excellent representation of snow.
A complete set of mail bags used by
Uncle Sam forms an interesting por-
just been placed on exhibition. One is
filled with brass protected perforations
and is intended for the shipment OF
queen bees. The traffic in these regal
honey collectors became so great that
the Postoffice officials designed bag
to protect the busy little workers in
transit Then there is a mail bag,
fashioned after knapsacli, intended
to be used by those who require the
free use Of their hands in travelling
A late addition to the museum IS the
soldier picture gallery" containing the
photographs of Union soldiers sent
through the mails during the Civil War
and never claimed. They are neatly az
ranged in swinging frames and are one
of the most popular features OF the
museum. In looking over the photo-
graphs of the boys in blue the reporter
was struck with the many boyisn faces
depicted. Each one told story. some
showed faces sad and careworn, other
poor, emaciated bodies, While not rev
looked cheerful despite their ragged
clothes, as if anxious to let the old folks
at home see they were well and happy.
The reporter found small but excel
lent likeness of General Sheridan, with
a full beard hiding his youthful face.
And there was the familiar memories'
that were full of sadness. There were
some vacant spaces, which the curator
explained were the results of identih-
cation. Oftentimes. he said, visitor
finds the picture of some relatives and
instantly puts in a claim for it. AS
soon as the department is satisfied
the claimant has a right to the picture
it is instantly given up.
There are models of the boats that
used to carry the mails in the olden
times, and there is a perfect model OF
the Inflated Paris, which still lies
stranded on the English coast.
A FINE STAMP COLLECTION.
Philatelists, or stamp collectors,
never tire of examining the magnificent
collection of stamps which are taste
fully arranged in frames, and by their
colors form an effective decoration
There are stamps from all countries
including every issue of the United
States There are letters without any
stamps, illustrating the mode OF de-
livery before our great postal system
went into operation In those old days
it cost something to send letter 10 a
friend. One of the letters bore across
it's face the figures showing it cost
fifty cents to send it. The cheapest
rate was ten cents. the curator ex-
planned.
There are several cases containing
peculiar things found in the mails, and
they are varied as they are numerous.
Everything from a Spanish one-pound
SHE'LL with explosive cap attached, to
an old-fashioned hustle is here. Over
in one corner is Benjamin Franklin's
account book when he first directed
the postoffice department. The writ
ing is still very legible, and the book
is in a wonderful state of preseva-
ton.
OWNEY, THE TRAMP DOG.
In a case all to himself, decorated
with a thousand medals, and surround
ed with two times as many tags with
all kinds of inscriptions, is "Owney,"
the tramp dog who travelled all over
the world as the special protege ot the
mail carriers. Owney's story has been
told us so many times that brief
notice will suffice at this time. One
day he followed a carrier into the post
Office at Albany, and since that time
up to the date of his death knew 70
ether masters. The boys in gray were
all his friends, and he would follow
a mail man all over the world. After
remaining about the Albany Office some
time he followed a railway mail clerk
one day and then became a wanderer.
He was passed along the road until he
had gone from Maine to Tacoma,
Washington. Then he went abroad
and visited India, Egypt and the home
of Shakespeare on the Avon. He re-
truned to this country covered with
badges and wearing tags with poetry.
Owney was a good fellow without any
bad traits, and it takes a big case to
show him and his passports.-Wash-
ington Star.
A Solicitous Widow.