The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-17
Is YOUR NAME THERE
Many Well Known Names Found on
Advertised Letters List
Now and Then.
That of a Postofice Officials Wife
Recently Among the
Number.

1t is safe to say that many a person
who passe without a thought the little
frame hanging in the postoffice near the
Third street entrance would occasionally
find something of interest on the lists
which it contains. 5 Nothing issued by the
department awakens the general interest
that the weekly list of uncalled for or I'M
located letters attracts. 1t is anxiously
scanned by those persons who call regular
ly for their mail at the general delivery
window, but rarely by those who sit COM
fortably in their homes awaiting the post-
mans ring. ~
That is just where great mistake is
made, for much mail goes wrong or to
the dead-letter office which would find its
destination II every one would go over
the list under his initial at least. Some
times a wrong first initial, or such an err
ror as mistaking an F4 for an N, serves
to cause a letter to, be advertised when
it would be recognized at once by the
person for whom 1t was intended.
A local neWspa per man. attracted by
apparent, inexcusable errors has for sew
eral months been going over the weekly
lists and setting right an average Of ten
letters week. At first it seemed strange
| that letters intended for prominent per-
sons SHOULD" be advertised, but in
vestigation has generally shown
some good reason, undoubtedly,
however, the system Of looking
| persons could be improved upon. The
difficulty is that the clerks who attend to
| the insufficient addresses are not sup
| posed to read all the society notes, and
then, when a letter comes addressed in
| the maiden name of a bride, to remember,
though it may be months after, what her
name was; or when a prominent pastor
removes from the city to remember where
he went; or to know what a married
woman's individual initials are. Not long
ago a letter was advertised for the wife
of a leading Minneapolis posrofficial Off
cial under her own initials.
Mall for Little Folk.
Citizens should never move from a. town
without leaving the forwarding address
of the, entire family, FOR should + not
take residence in a town without at once
filing the names Of the entire family.
The clerks are not supposed to know who
Flossy Smith is, as the names Of chill
dren are never in the directory and rarely
in the blue book. Many a little girl
misses dainty note from a playmate be-
cause Uncle Sam does not know the
names of all the little ones, unless his
memory is logged
I No doubt many errors are made which
could be rectifed if the United States
postoffice department would follow the
subjects of the government as closely az
; continental governments do, A card sys.
tenn would locate man for all time, Sc
that years after he was dead and forgot
!, ten, the whereabouts of his heirs, or the
} remaining partner of "a defunct firm
might be found at any time. " 49,
Neglect Of New Firms.
Strange as it may seem, new firms will
J start in business and never notify tn.
postoffice. so that when a letter addresses
without the street number is received i
may go astray although the firm imagine
it is well known. f,Uhti1 a new director.
is issued the teleph6ne book is the onl!
Finder" Letters, when unidentified ar
4 posted for the CARRIERS; to identify, blu
even postmen are human and not all-see
ing. ~. : { ~