The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-17
PosTMEN OF THE WORLD.
How Various Nations Dress Their


Letter Carriers.
An attractive exhibit at the government
building at the Pan-American exposition,
and one that may possibly be transferred
to the national museum at the conclusion
of the fair, says the Washington Times,
series of very life-like figures repre-
senting the uniforms and equipments of
The various postmen of the world. The
uniform of the letter carrier Of this coun-
try must be said to compare rather I'M
favorably in point of elegance and neat
ness with those use in other countries. In
simplicity of attire the postman of Japan
must be given first place, his uni orm
consisting of a loin cloth Of very scanty
dimensions, and nothing more. 1t is true
that this poStman is only employed in
mail pouches are hung on either end OF
a bamboo pole that is carried over the
shoulder.
The native runner of Natal is another
striking example of the universally OF
the great postal systems of the world,
that marvel of human ingenuity which
unites the most distant individuals, so
that the traveller need rarely feel entirely
separated from his home and kindred.
The Natal runners are interesting from
their attire, their head dress of leaves,
for instance, and their methods of work.
When they perform short Journeys they
run at the rate of about four miles an
hour. The salary paid Is IS per month,
and an allowance is made for rations. me
clothing of the letter carrier OF Natal IN
it's entirety consists of military great
coat and cape, which are supplied by the
government of the colony. Beneath the
overcoat is worn a garment called the
mucetu, and rawhide sandal is some
times laced to the foot.
+ The postmen of Barbados, although
they are not privileged to sport the pic
turesGue shirt waist of our own letter
carrier, are allowed to wear two uni
fOrms-One for the hot weather 1n<Juiy'
So,1@ ,I>1,- Tn 0ffl n
cooler months. The former is maze of
unbleached cotton drill. with red faclngs,
and the latter of blue serge.
Z On the southern slopes of the eau
from a friend on the plains sends his
dog down In charge OF tax collector or
peddler, with instructions that the mes
sage shall be placed IN a little pouch in
the ring of the dogs collar. The intel
ligent quadruped is then turned loose
and trots back home with the mail.
One of the strangeSt methods OF carry
Ing the mails Is in vogue among the ma
tiveS of Coromandel. 1t is said that wa
terproof bags are there deposited in a
species of catamaran boat which is so
small that the poStman has to sit aStride
1t like a floating log. Sometimes these
where numerous sharks form an element
of consideration, but in most cases the
passage is made in safety, and the letters
ale received punctuaily.
AUSl u Tie SluplOySS VI Tie pOStOuiCS
department of British Guiana are negroes
or Of negro descent, although the Staff
are Europeans or of European descent.
The Salvador postman is also a swarthy
gentleman, with strong dash of At
rican blood in his veins. In the capital
of Salvador there are seventeen letter
carriers of this type, two of whom are
exclusively employed in the delivery of
registered letters for which they receive
$40 a month There are three monthly
mails to Europe, and three to this coun-
try, all of which are carried by the Pa
cific Steamship company.
A very primitive method of carrying
the mails is in vogue in Korea, a small
but exceedingly conservative nation. The
oX-cart is here employed in the postal
service, and it Is anything but rapid
means of transit. In China, which is also
fairly unprogreSSive, there is more of an
attempt at speed. There are two methods
of carrying the mails there. The letters
couriers. frequently accompanied by mill
itary escort. Public letters are carried by
two private companies. The first COM
pany called the local has the cities
for it's seat of operations; and the 9TH
er, called the general" delivers letters
to all parts of the empire, maintaining
communication with the far-off frontier
towns.
=, In Holland, the extent Of the mail serv-
ice routes is over 10000 miles. The uni
form Of the postman Is semi-military in
character; the men themselves are said
to be a remarkably handsome body.
In Austria, the government gives to the
pOStmen every year one tunlc, one pair
of cloth trousers, one pair of linen trou-
cry second year coat and blouse are