The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-10-25
A ROLL OF RED TAPE.
THE CiRCUMLOCUTIoN OF THE ENG
LiSH POSToFFlcE.

LlSH POSTOFFlCE.
Trnvelings and Troubles OF n Citizen
of the Great Metropolis In Ills At
tempt to Mail u Little Package For
Delivery In New York.
In this greatest of all cities, London,
there Is a place called st. Martins le
Grand, and In st. Martins lie Grand
there Is an institution which fills both
sides of the street and in which every
man. woman ani child Of these blessed
Islands has more or less of peculiar
interest. 1t is called the general post
office and is presided over by the latest
Of n long line OF ilustrious dukes and is
really very great concern indeed.
Well, went there the other day.
did not so Oh some extraordinary cr-
rand. l did not wish to worry the duke
or to diScOncerr the officials with cues
tions as to the rules and regulations.
AS n matter of fact. | went to post Il
packet Of photographs.
Now, 1T is Il remarkable fact that al
though l have lived in London for n
good many years had never previous
office. l should not have done so on
this OCCASION but for the fact that the
clerk at my local office had got n more
than usually acute attack Of aslninlty
and could not tell me for the life of
him what to do to get my modest pack
ct Of photographs Off by that evenings
mail to New York.
1t wanted just five minutes to the
closing time for the American mail
when l arrived, hot and brcathless
With my rapid walk. In st. Martins lie
Grand. wanted three things, my pnr-
eel weighed. the necessary stamps and
information as to where to post 1t.
Now, ut most postof1ices wher you re.
quire STAMPS YOU make your way to n
door In the immediate vicinity Of the
posting slots, where you find the room
devoted to their sale.
Not SO ut the London general post
Office. l approached the nearest door
i rod braided official sitting on n sack
asked what wanted.
Stamps" l said.
you'll get them in the building
across the street" he answered.
Dodglng across the street, therefore,
at the usual risk of life which attends
such performance in this greatest Of
all cities, l ran into room and up to Il
long counter and. seeing close at hand
n notice bearing tie legend. Late fec.
foreign parcels" made for it and ask
ed the clerk to kindly tell me how
much that would take
He told me TO apply half way down
the counter. | did SO. and. after
weighing my packet. another clerk told
me it would take 4 two penny halfpcn-
ny stamp.
''And the late fec:" Qucrcd.
"Oh. do you want it TO so by this
mail? Oh. all right. Another halfpen-
n.y."
"Wherc must post it:' asked
"Outside. across. the street" he re-
piled.
Glancing ut the clock. l rushed out
and. diving across the tlloroughfarc,
began careful study OF the various
posting slots to discover which particu-
lar one was for the reception Of late fee
packets for the foreign mail. studied
in vain, and, catching sight of another
red braided official In 4 corner, asked
him to direct me. After Il look at my
packet he said:
Hand it over the counter across the
street"
With n remark not iouti, but deep.
once moge lodged the traffic. charged
up the steps. upsetting two men and n
boy on the way, and thrust my parcel
over that brass railing which the au-
thorities with much prudence and fore
sight have instituted in these establish
ments obviously to protect the so call
CD officials from the righteous fury of
an outraged public.
"What is it?" asked the clerk.
II assure you," replied, that this Is
a packet of photographs. tied round
with string and directed to New York"
"Well, you must post it across the
street" he said.
Steeling myself 10 n frightful calm
ness, / explained to him that had al
ready been three times SIS the
street over that same packet, but that
nevertheless l would chcerfully cross
1t n dozen times If the regulations Of
her mnjesty's service so directed. He
seemed hurt little at my remarks but
finally asked to have a closer look ut
the packet. AT last:
'Take 1t to the other end Of the coun-
ter" he directed. land Gsk the man
there"
did so, and, after answering one or
two further assinine queries as we'll rs
my trembling sanity would allow. 1t
was accepted. and so ut last succeed
ed IN posting packet Of photographs
to New York.
And this is true story from "the
greatest city In the world. ."-London
Cor. New York Mall and Express.