Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-10-11
RECALLING A LETTER
HOW YOU, MAY GET 1T OUT OF THE
MAIL AFTER POSTING 1T.

The Postal Authorities Have N sys-
tenn by which "a Document Mny BE
Reclaimed If Application Is Made
Before II Is Delivered.
A few days ago young woman hur-
ried into Che office of the postmaster 1T
New York and asked to have letter
withdrawn from the mails. She had
posted 1t an hour previously, she said,
and since then had learned something
about Mr.. Blank that incensed her;
therefore she did not want to keep the
appointment she had consented to In
the letter Could she reclaim the mis-
sive before it reached the addressee?
she inquired.
The postmaster referred her to the
superintendent of mails, and within
half an hour the letter was picked out
from among thousands of its mates
and restored to the claimant, who tore
1t into bits and walked out Of the post
office
The authorities of the postofiice have
made every provision for absent and
tickle minded patrons of the mails.
Among the most interesting and valu-
able is the process by which a letter
may be reclaimed after it has been
posted.
Comparatively few people know that
this can be done, and fewer care to
take the trouble of going through the
forms which have been prescribed
forms which are to n degree cumber-
hut tuh
nevertheless, are necessary to prevent
deception and fraud.
Occasions arise when the writer Of
an important letter desires to with
draw 1t before 1t reaches Its destina-
tion. Oftentimes additional knowledge
of n proposed transaction is acquired
after Il letter has been sent to the post
Office, making 1t highly desirable that
the facts related In the letter do not
reach the person for whom they were
originally intended. In case, too, where
knowledge of the failure of a mercan-
tile firm or a banking house reaches u
person who has mailed n check or draft
to that concern it is sometimes wise
to withdraw the letter before 1t is de-
livered.
The postal authorities have a system
by which such a lettermay be reclaimed
II application is made for it before it
is delivered. Application must be made
in person. The government provides a
blank upon which the applicant writes
the address that il given on the letter.
If that letter has not left the postoflice,
the superintendent of mails finds It and
compares the address on the envelope
with tho address on the applicants
slip. Ii the addresses are identical, the
letter Is returned to the claimant and
the authorities keep the slip as a re-
ceipt.
10 reclaim letter sent out of the of.
fee the writer must fill out the pre-
scribed blank and deposit 81 for tele.
grams. Tho superintendent of mails
then telegraphs the postoliice to which
the letter has been sent and asks him
to return 1t. When 1t reaches him, hc
compares the addresses, and If they
are alike he returns the letter to the
applicant The expense of telegraph
ing Is deducted from the deposit, and
the balance is returned.
This involves study of handwrlt
ing. II There is n noticeable difference
IN the little things which are charac
teristic-the mqnner Of crossing the
its" or the dotting of the 'i's" or the
peculiar little hourishes which are
made after name-the letter Is moi
delivered to the claimant. In caset
where letters are addressed by type
writer II !a lmros1lhlr to identify IN,