The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-06
COUNTRY POSTMEN OF EUROPE.

Last year the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads OF the House of
Representatives called upon the Post
master-General for some details of
letter delivery in the rural districts of
some European countries with view
OF still further extending the free de-
livery system In the United States. The
answers sent through the State De-
partment show a rather primitive
method OF such delivery in most Euro
pean countries, though in outfit and
equipment of the travelling postman. a
picturesque feature OF rural life is in
troduced. Thei rural mail-carriers in
Austro- Hungary, for instance. wear
gray uniforms, carry ironshod sticks.
leather pouches, ink-horns and signal
horns. ana the latter are violently
blown at the entrance of each village
TO notify its inhabitants that the let
ters have arrived. Among the articles
delivered are letters, postal cards,
newspapers, samples and kilograms,
the fees charged for ordinary letters pc
ing one kreutzer, a half of a cent, and
a half kreutzer for newspapers. This
payment. is, OF course, additional TO the
charge for prepayment and is added TO
IL for the special delivery service
In Belgium the rural mail carriers are
furnished with a way bill. upon which Is
entered the date, the hours OF depart
ure and return, the position of the diff
ferent letter boxes from which collec-
tions are made. and an impression Of
the stamp OF each letter box. These
rural carriers of Belgium travel on the
state railroads free, but only when I'm
uniform and when carrying their port
folio and card of Identification. They
are also permitted Ito circulate freely
in the railroad stations" ana they are
especially admonished to stop at the
approach OF trains or locomotives and
never TO cross the tracks when n train
or locomotive Is in sight. The Belgum
rural letter carflers are armed with
clubs and revolvers.
The provincial postmen In England
(such Is their official designation) are
from eighteen 90 thirty years OF age at
entrance to the service. the only excep-
tion being discharged soldiers and sail
ors who are permitted TO begin work
when over thirty. They get fourteen
weekdays n year as holidays, get free
medical attendance. serve four hours on
sunday. for which soecial paw Is FUR
nfshed. and receive $3.50 week salary.
The average walk OF n provincial nOst-
man is from fifteen 20 eighteen miles n
day The average rate IN walking Is
three miles an hour. In addition to
their regular nay each provincial most
man Is allowed twenty-One sh'llings n
wear for boot allowance. otherwise shoe
leather wear and tear and after ten
years Of service. I'm case OF incapacity
or at the age OF sixty. there Is a pen
sion for the postman on retirement
In Switzerland the government fur
nishes every rural pOstman. who is
regularly employed IN outdoor delivery.
with one tunic n year and one blouse
and n cape every third year. while
those who are only occasionally en-
ploved I'm outdcr delivery get tunic
md blouse every otiier wear and eope
svery ave wears. The salary varies
from, SEE 30 $50 n nnorth The average
number of working hours fs eight.
Tn Trance the ~alarv ~ poStn1cn T.
fixed nv the number ~ kil0-netres t'av-
need nrd not accoriinv 10 any nxei
grade There ere ~ GOO country Dcst-
men IN Jrrnnce. and % fhc'r VARYING
saiaries as h~ed by kiiorretrr arr ad7-
ed rrafufties Cor ca-rvirv paccages aud
repeating verbal Jne~saros. The rural
postrnan is not national institution IN
Spain.