The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-13
FREAKS IN The MAILS
Ping Pong Balls, Bark Bills, Corr
Hiusks and Other Things Used.

Ping Pong Balls, Bank Bills, Corn
Eiusks and Other Things Used.
The use Of ping-pong balls as post cards
is the latest freak of seekers for novelty.
It started in Liverpool quite recently.
and despite its obvious disadvantages, is
spreading in England. The principal re-
suit is much unhappiness to the postmen
and a recent new regulation in some
places forbidding all such unhandy mis-
sives.
The balls were stamped. an address
written under the stamp and the MESA &c
scrawled on the rest of the surface. These
clumsy and bulky post cards were posted
in Liverpool by the thouand and gave the
postoflice authorities an immense amount
OF extra work.
Among those idle people who from time
to time have wasted their supernuous
energies in testing the forbearance OF
the postal officials. is a man in South
ampton. England, whose favorite form Of
missive used TO be a postage stamp. But
as he wrote the address on the face Of
the stamps the authorities decided that
they were not bound to deliver them It
was probably the same person who after
ward posted complete pack OF playing
cards. each neatly addressed on the back,
but with no message whatever on the col
ored side.
Another very peculiar letter found in
a London pillar box last autumn was a
green apple, on one side of which was cut
an address and on the other the simple.
but expressive message: 'Sour-like you.
Bank notes have been employed as
writing paper more than once by extrava-
CANT or foolish persons. Among the eff
fects of an English miser who died about
fifteen years ago was found a e5 note on
which the deceased had writtendirections
as to the disposal Of his property. At
Hampstead there lived until recently a
wealthy bachelor of whom it was said
that he once wrote a proposal OF mar
rage to a. lady on the back of a $50 note
and because it was sent back without a
word OF comment by the recipient refused
to have anything to do with the fair sex.
Writing paper, or, indeed paper of any
kind, is usually at a premium among sol
diers on active service. Many very
curious substitutes came from the Brit
ish soldiers in South Africa. One Of the
most common has been mealie leaves
''Mealie" is the South African name for
maize Round the maize cob grow =
number of tough enveloping sheaths
which when dry turn TO a pale yellow
color and can be then written upon.
After Colenzo there was found grasped
in the stinened hands of a dead soldier a
piece Of leather with a dying message
ell. II was q layer of the sole Of the
dead mans boot. which had probably
been loosened with much marching, and
which he had contrived 10 rip or. It
safely reached the poor fellows family
in England.
From the Philippines. too. some curious
letters have been received by the friends
Of American soldiers lighting In those
islands one Of the most ingenious was a
piece Of native bamboo about foot long
or which an address had been carved
with penknife The letter was inside
this hollow tube. ard held there BY wood
en- Pins at each end The writer explain
&c that ne had found IT impossible to ser
an envelope or 10 ind any gum 10 make
one. so had had recourse TO this expe-
dent
The ceiling Of room Is as rule 20
far ont Of ordinary reach that the idea
q using II for writing or seems strangs.
But in a case tried last year IN England
II transpired that q landlady had been in
the habit Of using her ceiling in lieu Of
a rent book Upon II were Inscribed the
various amounts received from her lods-
ers. As It was. q course impossible 10
bring this strange rent book into court. a
certified copy had 70 be made for the use