davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04

the boxes were empty. A lively fight ensued. in
which the postmen were victorious. The post
master interviewed. and the result was that
leather satchels were found in storeroom and
distributed to the mprovised letter carriers. who
wore their fatigue uniforms without side arms.
Each soldier allowed franc extra pay
for the days work, but they were forbidden to
receive presents in money This was severe
upon the soldiers, one Of whom said: II
offered nearly one hundred francs in tips which
l was obliged to refuse but one old lady insist
ed upon kissing when l delivered her let
ter from her daughter"
The little piou- pious. in their red trousers
and blue Jackets, enjoyed their days outing inn
mensey AS may be readily imagined, there
were many mistakes. Several soldiers returned,
saying they could not find the streets they had
been told off to distribute the letters in. A par
tial delivery of letters thus secured on
Thursday evening.
The strikers soon saw that they were not in
disDensable. 1t has been a wholesome lesson to
them. on Thursday night each postman
ceved telegram announcing that unless he
sumed work at 4:30 o'clock on Friday morning
he would be dismissed All hands. including
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04

to undertake. the necessary reforms.
The rapidity of the Paris postal service Is by
n means equal to that of London or of New
York But the inspection and care taken to in
sure the delivery of insuticiently addressed let
ters are remarkable. For instance in the CEN
trail sorting hall Of the General Postoffce there
is a high pulpit. Whenever a postman comes
across a letter bearing merely name. but
without any mention Of street or number. he
touches a bell which summons a messenger.
who conveys the letter to the pulpit, where
man with a clear, distinct voice shouts out. At
tention." and reads out the name in question.
l. the person to whom the letter is sent be a
resident of Paris. it usually happens that some
one OF the postmen is able to complete the
address from indications on other letters OF
from knowledge acquired by delivering letters
in the region in question for num"er Of years.
c. |. Il.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04

making useless double entries. counting seals.
making sure that stamps have certain intervals
between them lin case of registered letters and
in the case OF money orders cutting with dull,
medieval governmental scissors complicated
checks. stubs. adyices and receipts. 1t is by no
means uncommon to see as many forty per-
waiting at the registration or mOney-Order
wickets, and one often mas to waste half an hour
before being able to approach the counter and be
attended to-
The Count de Calonne. who has recently made
a comprehensive study Of French officialism
and its crying abuses once found the money
order wicket blocked by a railway clerk. who
sending pensions to all the company's re-
tired servants There were several hundred Of
them. and in each case the name. position and
address had to be entered by the clerk in
double register. written on an order form.
again written advice form and on re-
ceipt, and these papers cut out Of the book with
the famous governmental scissors.
DELIVERY METHODS IN PARIS.
For the purposes of letter and parcel delivery
there are seven postal deliveries in Paris. The
average time required for a letter to pass
through the postoffice from part of the city
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04

most of those the sick list. turned up at the
regular time on Friday, when the strike ended
as suddenly as it began. The ringleaders of the
movement were small group of young en-
poycs who had fooshly hoped to precipitate
conflict between the Senate and the Chamber Of
Deputies and otherwise fish in troubled waters.
These men will be dismissed. but the others will
be treated with indulgence.
SMALL PAY FOR THE MEN.
1t Is generally admitted that the Paris post
man is underpaid. The starting pay is 1OOO
francs year He receives 100 francs annual in
demnity for rent. There is an allowance of 30
francs for shoes. He is entitled to an increase
Of 100 francs for every period Of three years
service until the maximum salary of loo francs
is reached Besides the regular pay, it should
be remembered that the estimated yearly value
of tips" for a letter-carrier on active duty in
Paris is at least 1000 francs. What the post
men now demand is a starting pay Of LOO
francs with an increase at the rate of 200 francs
for each period of three years service.
The postofice is one of the hardest-worked
ployes are overloaded with labor which. with a
more intelligent and practical organization.
might be reduced half. They groan under
the red-tape methods they obliged 10 follow.
The clerks of the registration and money-order
departments spend the better part Of their time
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04
the COLOR or THE BRITISH FLAG.

Letter in The London Post.
Let the British listen TO this story. which is an
old but true one. Two young Beers were argu-
ing about the color Of the British flag. one said
it was the Union Jack but the other declared it
was the ensign An old Boer listening quietly
settled the question. 1--WE seem" he said, the
British flag three times-OnCe at Laing'S Neck,
orce at Majuba and lastly at Doornkop-and
each time ii was white" That is example OF
how we are looked on at the Cape. 1t is for the
Imperial Government 10 say how long this state
Of things viii continue %.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04
THE PARIS POSTAL SYSTEM.
DEFICIENT AND ANTIQUE METHODS IN
VOGUE IN THE SERVICE
xKD TAPE HAMPERS EvERYTHING-THE CUES
TON OF SALARIES AND THE EFFORT
TO HAVE THEM RAISED

Paris May 81.
The Paris postal system was put to a severe
test on Thursday. when. owing to a strike of
letter-carriers and sorters. there regular
delivery Of letters newspapers for twenty
four hours. The strike Of postmen. for which
there is no precedent in Paris occurred without
the slightest warning. The business community
became helpless as if from suspended ANNA
don. At the Bourse and on the Commercial
Exchange the loss due to the delay in the de-
livery Of drafts. remittances. money orders.
checks orders 10 buy or sell. etc, is estimated
At $5000OO0 Commission agents were in con-
sternaton. for they did no business owing to
the absence of orders. and these orders now
that they have arrived. cause in many instances
great perplexity TO how they are 10 be car
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04

to another is five
hours. For postal pur-
poses Paris is divided
into eleven zones. each
with numerous sub
divisions, or "rayons."
Large brown Omni-
buses. each holding
twelve postmen and
drawn by a pair OF
heavy horses. convey
the letter carriers to
and fro between the
"rayon" and the CEN
trail office. There are D.
light two-wheeled til
burys, which are used
for transporting sorted
mailbags to the rail-
way stations. There
are also large. heavy,
brow n-colored vans
resembling b / c k
marias," in which the
postmen sort the mail
while il is being trans
ported. Postal wagons
have the right of way
over all other vehicles
in Paris except fire
engines.
The General POST
office, which was COM
pleted in 1883. is an
enormous stone build
ing in the Rue Etienne
Marcel. 1t occupies
the site of a house in
which La FOntaine.
the author of the IA
nous Fables" lived
until his death, in
1895.
The great difficulty
seems to be that the
French postal service
system is not regarded
so much as a SER
vice for the con-
venienCe Of the public
as a revenue-prOduc-
ing machine. and con-
sequently the Minis
tries which succeed
each other with such
rapidity are unwilling
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04

ried out. Thursday is
the day on which
the New-YOrk mail.
brought by the steam
ers Of the American.
German and White
Star lines, is due in
Paris. The American
banking houses were
besieged with Ameri-
can residents inQuir-
ing for letters and
remittances. Business
was completely upset
Paris. Ow in & to
strikes or accidents.
has at various times
been deprived Of water
and has for twenty
four hours been with
out pneumatic clocks.
omnibuses. cabs. gas
and ven without
bread: but this is the
first time except in
May, 1871. when the
city was set on fire
during the Commune.
that Paris has been
without letters and
newspapers.
The cause Of the
strike was a supple
mentary bill intro
duced by M. GrOussier.
a Radical Deputy.
which passed the
Chamber by APO votes
against 127. providing
a credit Of 1000. 900
francs for the pur-
pose Of raising the be-
ginning Stipends OF
urban postmen from
/. 100 francs a year to
200 francs. and CIV
ing an additional 100
francs to the older
hands. To this in
crease of expenditure
the Senate on May 10
refused to assent by a
vote Of l52 to 80. The
reasons which induced
the Senate to reject
the proposed increase
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04

OF wages of pOStmen were clearly stated
during the debate by NJ. Mougeot, Under
Secretary of the Posts and Telegraphs. who
urged that although the city postmen were in
adequately paid, it would be unjust to favor
them by additional wages without al.o increas-
ing the pay of the country postmen, who are
much worse off than their colleagues in Paris
and the large towns Moreover, NJ. Mougeot
pojnted out that if the city postmen received
higher pay their superors in the postal HE
rarchy-the inspectors. cashiers, clerks and su-
perfume raries-would undoubtedly present sim
liar claims. which. if granted. would completely
swamp the budget.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-04
A GENERAL STRIKE BEGUN.

On "Wednesday morning the Partisan postmen
read in the papers the decision Of the Senate
and twenty-four hours later general strike
began. which for short time paralyzed the eco
nOmic activity of the capital 1t came like a
bolt from the blue. on Thursday morning at
400 o'clock, when the postmen who sort the
printed matter at the General Postofiice began
their usual work. they were harangued by
handful of young employees with the following
appeal:
Comrades, We have decided not to work to-
day. and We have begun the strke You have
read In the newspapers that NJ MOugeot. Under
Secretary Of Posts and Telegraphs. who ought
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07

instead of somebody else You may ar
que that II would have been easy TO itch
the fellow by posting the police at differ
emit points. They were duly posted, but it
reacted on me. He was arrested five diff
ferent times, but checked it through every
time, while I was arrested twice as many
times by the very police l had posted, and
was put to more or less trouble in every
instance. The fellow did a mighty cheeky
thing at Xenia. / arrived there about
noon one day, and 1t so happened that
my trunk DID not come along. In 1t was
my commission and other documents. l
was arrested at two o'clock in the after
noon on charge of passing a worthless
check on shoe store At three O'Clock
my double arrived from another direction.
As soon as he heard of my arrest he
v.sited.th police and congratulated them,
and then went to a newspaper office and
wrote whole column for publication. He
claimed to be the real thing, of course
while was the counterfeit, and he turned
me off in great shape. My trunk came on
the seven O'Clock train, and two hours
later / was set at liberty. but my man
had been gone an hour or so and | was
"Soon after the Xenia ipcident I threw
up my job for one which sent me over
four States, and l stil hold 1t. My double
has also enlarged his field Of operations.
He resembles me as closely to-day as he
did ten years ago He has caused my ar
rest In Chicago three different times. and
the situation is such that / can no longer
stop at the Palmer House. or the Audi
forum. In Detroit, six months ago, ] was
locked up over night because my double
had jumped bill at the Russell House.
At Jackson, in the same State. he got me
into trouble by selling half dozen bogus
gold watches When / went into Indian
apolis one day last week l was prepared
to find a detective waiting for me. and
he was on hand. My double had been try
ing to work off a bogus silver mine on
the confd.ng public. 1 reached ST. Louis
| this afternoon. 1t was disappointment
| TO me not TO be arrested at the depot,
| but consoled myself By figuring that 1t
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07

hand-painted vase at As cents each
and the silver-plated button-hooks re-
duced from S2.49 to II cents, but she
hung at fancy cups and saucers for II
cents per pair, and haggled for fifteen
minutes over hand-glass, which had
Just arrived from Paris, but which
must always be given away to intro
duce the style. We did not get to the
gloves. The woman suddenly decided
TO try another store, and when we got
there she wanted to look at furniture.
When We had seen everything we went
down one floor and took in carpets and
rugs. Then we dropped another story
to tea-gowns and milliHey. Here she
tried on five different hats, priced about
twenty different eloaks and jackets, and
finally settled down 10 the tea-gowns.
When they had exhibited everything in
the store she decided on a pink gown
which had been reduced from $3.50 to
1927. That is, she decided to take it
| if there was a bargain in it. She
thought the price ought to be IS. After
| a good deal Of haggling # was offered
to her for So. This would have been
a satisfactory figure had the salesgirI
been licensed to declare that other
| stores had sold just such gowns at 1925.
but she hung OF about it and we were
| finally turned cut of the store at clos
ing time. On the way out 1 bought a
stickpin for three cents which had
formerly sold for roc, and that was the
sole and only article we could show for
the five hours hard work. When I got
up the courage 10 growl about this
senseless waste Of time the woman
turned on me with:
Waste of TIME, indeed. That's all
a man knows about it. Why. we've
been shopping and put in an afternoon
to be remembered for years."
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07

an inventor. If he has given any
body lesson on the violin, banjo or
guitar then he's a professor and wants
the title in all its fuliness. We let him
nave it without dispute, In every
city there are scores of fakirs who have
cures for warts, tooth-ache, corns and
other ailments. Most of them want
to be recorded as physicians, and no
doubt some slip in with that title after
their names. On the sixth floor of a
fiat, during my late canvass, 1 entered
room occupied by a cripple in rags
He had lived there alone and in bitter
poverty. When he gave me his name
he wanted banker to follow it. and
the idea was so absurd that l sat down
and laughed. He looked at me in a.
reproying way, and from the toe of
an old shoe sitting on the floor he drew
out almost $50 in bills, silver and pen
MES. He was banker for ten families
in that fiat, and had been for three or
four years, and in return all contrib
uted something for his support. He's
in the last directory as a banker, and
all of his customers are mighty proud
of it," CHARLES B. LEWIS.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07
TAKING THE CENSUS.
How the City Directory Man Meets With Trials
and TribuIations Galore.

who changes her first name every year
as regularly as clockwork. She started
in with Ann, | believe, and then came
out as Florence, Sylvia, Isabella and
Virginia. Just what she'll be next
year is impossible to say, but shall be
ready for Cleopatra at least and never
crack smile. In our last canvass
ran across a case which more than
surprised me. / called at the house oc-
cupied by a well-to-do widow about
fifty years of age. When l explained
what | wanted she replied:
4 am the head of the house but
this is such a singular matter that |
must have time to consult with my
friends. l have never heard of such
a book as city directory
Il thought at first she was guying
me, but l soon found that she was
deeply in earnest. She'd lived in a
city thirty years and never heard OF a
directory. Her name had been in and
out, but had probably come through a
servant or neighbor. l went out to
an office and got directory to show
her, but she was not quite satisfied
yet. She didn't take me for swind-
Ter, but it had come upon her so sud
den that she couldn't make UP her
mind what to do. AS we stood in the
door policeman passed, and she
called to him and kept him explaining
for quarter of an hour before she
gave me her name. Sometime when
you have an idle hour look through the
directory and see how cuteiy a GER
tain class dodge their avocations. l
think that about forty out Of every fifty
day laborers are down as mechanics.
There are plenty of mechanics who are
recorded as clerks or statesmen, and so
it goes all through. Each one takes
a rise in the world as it were. If a
mattress maker has got her wits about
her when I call she's a 'seamstress'
and the woman who washes for two or
three families is laundress,' thank
you. There's 10 harm done, however.
If a canvasser stopped to argue on
these little points he couldn't make
fifty cents a day, and half the house
holds would turn him out doors. There
are two classes Of men it don't do to
fool with if you want to complete your
list. If man has invented anything,
no matter if only a penny whistle, he
wants to be recorded forever after IS
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07

when / was a boy of twelve, but for
knowing anything about tips and
plumes / was all at sea. The matter
would have turned out the same, how
ing around When she had looked
long enough she remarked that she
guessed that she didn't care to buy
any tips to-day, and sauntered on down
the aisle. l heard the sales girl and
half dozen shoppers giving her fits
and she must have heard them, too,
but the smile never left her face.
was trying tc head her for the glove
counter, but she couldn't be dragged
past the bargain in soft pillows.
There were pillows in red, green. blue,
brown, stripes; they were ruffled and
! unruff1ed; they were big and small and
fat and lean. 1t was, I believe, owing
to the drought in Africa or the floods
in India that the~-Sre hal marked
these pillows down about 900 Per cent.
AT any rate, the sacrifice was some
thing awful, and the pillows just what
the woman had been looking for. She
paved over the heap and selected fif-
teen. Then she paved over the fifteen
and reduced the number to ten. Five
minutes later she had cut 'em to six,
and l wasn't bit surprised when she
remarked:
Come to think it over, have TWEEN
ty-two on nay divan now, and I don't
believe I want any more
In edging along to he gloves the
woman stopped to look at some hosiery
at II cents pair. She went from
hosiery to smelling salts at IS cents
a bottle. Beyond the bottles were
some tablecovers at 43 cents each, and
here we met with a close call. 1t was
the sales girls fault that a sale was
not effected. There had been re-
duction in price in orderjto make quick
sales. The reduction was from s4.51 to
IS cents. II she had only lied about
it and put the original price at about
S2297 the woman would have planked
down her 43 cents and had something
to brag about for a months to come.
But that sales girl was new to her
position and the cover was left on her
hands. I got the woman past the
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07
SHOPPING WITH A WOMAN
The Adventures of a Man Who Was In.
yeiSled.

Il want a pair of gloves, and it won't
take me ten miutes to buy them" said
the woman as we entered the dry goods
store. There are women who go
shopping without knowing whether
they want to buy or not, but l am not
one of them"
1t seemed to me to be a dead easy
thing to buy pair of gloves, and then
the woman sat down at the glove coun-
ter and said she wanted No. 6 tan col
ored street gloves. l didn't see how
We could put in five minutes over the
transaction. Down came a box of No.
tan colored gloves. Every pair was
Of the same shade and number, and
every pair was alike as to stitching and
buttons. The woman spent ten min
utes making sure of this, and then de-
cided that she didn't quite like the
shade. She wanted a lighter tan.
Down came another box, and another
ten minutes was wasted before the wo-
man said.
Il am disappointed in the color. l
think you may show me something
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07

Not guesswork. but science.
Not a step backward, but stride out
OF the old ruts.
Made possible only by Pasteur's,
Virchow's, Metchnikoff's and Slocums
latest discoveries in bacteriology, hy-
giene and therapeutics.
In plain English, system OF modern
scientific disease curing.
The System consists OF Four Prep
arations which act simultaneously and
supplement each others curative action.
You are invited to test what this sys-
tenn will do for you, il you are sick, by
writing for a free treatment TO the Slo-
cum Laboratories. New York City
WRITE TO THE DOCTOR.
Send your name and full express and
postofice address to the Slocum Labor
atories, % Pine street, New York, and
mention this paper, and the Four Free
Preparations OF medicine will be for
warded you.
The system is positive cure for con-
sumption, that most iusidious disease,
and for all lung troubles and disorders
complicated by loss OF flesh, Coughs.
Catatrh, Asthma, Bronchitis, etc.
Thin, pale, weak people become fat
and hearty by its use.
The test is to try it.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07
DOWN EAST CURIOSITY.

Christian Endeavor World.
II takes a Down East man 20 ask ques-
tons. but once In a while oas Of them
finds his match Jonathan overlook a
gentleman who was travelling on horse
back, Notwithstanding tho fact that no
had los. one leg. Ills curiosity vas
awakened as he rode Alongside Of Inn.
TO know how he CHANGED 10 meet VITA
such a misfortune.
"Deen in the army. I guessT' was tho
anx ous inquiry
Never was IN the army in my l:fr." ths
Traveller returned.
"Fh a duel. p'rHapaT
Never fought a duel. SIR"
Horse throwed you of, I guess. or
something Of that sort?"
No. s.r, rothlng Of the kind"
Jonathan tried various lodges. but all
70 no effect At last. alrnoas out Of pa
t.ence. he determined On a direct Inquiry
as 70 the nature Of the accident - which
the gentleman had come 90 loss his leg.
= VIII tell you, said the traye.er. ION
condition that you wiz promise rot TO ask
me another question"
Agreed. agreed exclaimed tie eager
listener Joyfuily
Well sir" remarked the gentleman, st
was b!t off"
Bit off," cried Jonathan. 'sWaIi. I de-
clare, Ia Ike 70 know, powerful well,
what CT a-th BIT il or"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-07

Do you cough?
Do your lungs pain you?
Is your throat sore and inflamed!
Do you spit up phlegm?
Does your head acheH
Is your appetite bad?
Are your lungs delicatel
Are you losing flesh?
Are you pale and thin?
Do you lack stamina?
These symptoms are proof that you
have in your body the seeds of the most
dangerous malady that has ever devas-
tated the earth-consumption.
Consumption, the bane of those who
have been brought up in the old-fash-
toned beliefs that this disease was hered-
itary, that it was fatal. that none could
recover who were once firmly clasped in
its relentless grip.
But now known to be durable, made
SO by the world-stirring discoveries OF
that man whose name has been given
to this new system OF treatment
Now known to be preventable and
durable by following and practising his
hygienic teachings.
The new system Of treatment will cure
you OF consumption and of all diseases
which can be traced back to weak lungs
as a foundation.
1t is not a drug system, but a system
of germ destruction and body building,