The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-12-12

iUo sdTTIer n the sOuntrN.
In his annual report Postmaster General
SMITH fingers lovingly over rural free
delivery, There are now, or were on Nov.
is, 2,8it rural free delivery routes and
they serve 1901. so, persons. The appro-
p%riation for this purpose for the current
year Is Si.75O.OOO. Mr.. SMITH estimates
that for sl2. 100000 more there could be
practically a daily delivery Of mail az every
door in the United States. He says that
rural free delivery increases correspond
ence and postal receipts, raises the value
Of farms. checks m%igrations from country
to town. cannot be given up and must DO
extended.
This enthusiasm Is Crcditable 20 the
Postmaster-General. who wishes to give u
daily mail to everybody and to put the
remotest parts OF tho country on a sub
stantial equality with the cities so far as
mail delivery u concerned. But we do
not understand that free delivery Is In the
nature I a right or oven Of a necessity
either in city or country. II Is a great con-
venience in the former. where the CON-
centration Of population makes 1t easy
and. considering the great number OF per-
SON served. inexpensive. In a sparscly
settled country it can be accomplished
only at a great loss; and the qu~ickening
Of the spirit Of correspondence thereby
has no effect upon the postal receipts pro-
portionate to the outlay incurred. At the
same time. II the country people want II,
they will get It; and for the sake of the
,.Aatal a,.np, IL a. 10 hA hnnnl thar tho
extensions OF il will be made very gradu-
ally. Mr.. SMITHS generous dream or
prophecy OF a daily delivery for everybody
should be some time in coming TO fulfill
ment, for 3l2, oOo, 900 makes a huge hunk
Of an Appropriation.
II is unfortunately or fortunately true
that all the country grows urban. Looking
forward to the twentieth century We seem
10 see a land OF endless railroads and troll
leys. a people arrayed In garments of one
fashionable cut. the farmer shooting along
In his automobile. the letter carrier trudg-
ing over the lava beds. the remaining In
dams playing golf. But the farmer who
does not live In the heart Of n village,
the necessarily rather Isolated and lonely
farmer OF to-day. must have change his
nature greatly II he had not rather go for
his mail than have il brought him.
The village Post ONCE and the village
store are his exchange. his club. his Rialto.
There he meets his townsmen. cracks his
Joke, tells his tale. forecasts the weather
with an unerring eye, discusses crops and
prices and politics. cows. sheep and horses.
steers and shoats. AZ pretty much every
thing else from Calvinism to catnlp. There
he makes his social inquiries, conSratu-
lations and condolences. There he buys
and sells and swaps. There is his liveliest
hour of the week or day, not even excepting
his incoming between services on Sundays.
Some day some young DANIEL or ancient
SOLOMON will try to set down n mlllionth
part of the wit. the humor. the shrewdness.
the general peep into the universe Of the
farmers at the Post Office and the store: and
that will be a book to buy.
1t may be that the farmer has changed.
Often he is too busy to go to the Post Office
he may be eager to have his mail brought
to him. People are much alike anyway
and more alike now than ever. Still. we
believe the farmer TO be wise and there
fore we cannot DelleNc that ne Is IN "A leVer-
ish anxiety to get his mail, That Is or
should be a vice Of cities. In the country
there should be more time. more delibera-
ton. a greater kindness TO the nerves.
A man should not get n letter too often.
The edge Of his sensibilities should not be
nicked; and if he be a good man and true.
he should turn over a letter a half dozen
,n,.a.ttnata tho prnrSrrinftn and !
postmark carefully, and prolong the minute
Of opening with the formula Il wonder
who it's from"