The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-10
ALL IN THE ADDRESS.

| that really began to learn things Clara
is a somewhat different young woman
| She wears a short rainy day skirt, with
| high laced shoes. when she goes TO the
Metropolitan opera house, and for this
she has 4 very good reason. What it is.
| the rest Of lis do not know. but that ii is
| a very good reason We feel sure. because
| il is Clara's reason Again, when she
goes to hes club she wears a Paris crea-
| ten. simply indescribabl by the mere
| male, and which is crnamented midway
between the neck and waist By a bright
| little badge bearing the lettsrs p W
L." For this display there is also, doubt
less, q very good Clara reason
Clara kindly began our education along
| the elemental line OF letter writing, or
perhaps it would be better 10 say en-
velope addressing. l had asked her 10
post a letter for me. and, in handling it.
she naturally took in the superscripticn-
| For this she apologiZed very prettily-
| Nevertheless she said: Very likely 1
/ should not speak OF il. but don't 700
| think you might better adopt a more
modern style of direction2"
| / begged Clara that she would eluci-
/ date.
why. then" said she. simply this-I
| notice that you add the word city after
! the name and street number OF the per
son with whom you are corresponding
Now. why do you do that. cousin?"
/ OF course L knew fntuitiyeIy chat there
was something deeper in Clara's question
than the mere wording of il would seem
! to indicate. However, for the life OF
me l could think OF no other reason
| than the one I gave her, Because my
friend lives in this city, to be sure
Clara smiled indulgently. THAT natu-
rally she said, but why employ a term
which is archaic today and will be obso-
lete tomorrow"
I murmured, why, indeed?" not in the
least gathering Clara's drift. and then.
as she seemed to expect something else.
l asked. Cousin Clara how would you
have addressed that letter.
Why said Clara, looking at the en-
| velope in a kindly. critical way, II
should say that the substitution Of the
word Town for City and the addition
in the upper left hand corner of the word
Important would bring the superscrip-
ton within easy hailing distance of mod
ernity."
1 thanked Clara for the suggestion. In
little side talks which she was good
enough TO throw my way later in our
acquaintance l learned to appreciate the
value of the line Important" written in
the upper left-hand corner of the en-
yelope. 1t appears that this legend is
more potent than dollars worth of
special delivery stamps in Fastening the
despatch of the letten BY placing the
injunction in question p rominently on
the sheet the man who is intrusted with
posting it is impressed with a RESPONSE
bility rarely called forth by the ordinary
correspondence. He does not stick the
letter in the inside pocket of his coat.
forget about it, lay off his coat for an
other, and finally discover after weeks,
and maybe months, that he has neglected
duty.
Also, the addition referred to is potent
to secure an earlier collection than
usual from the particular box in which
such mail matter may be deposited And,
once in the hands of the sorting clerk,
the marked letter is favored to the ex-
clusion of all others, placed in its proper
package, forwarded with all despatch
TO its appropriate sub-station. and there
turned over to the carrier, who. hurry
ing through other calls TO reach the num-
Der indicated, hands it in to Clara's
friend, with a smile indicative of pleas
ant duty faithfully performed, and says,
Here's one marked Important, SIR
And Clara's friend, in fever of fear,
expectancy and what not, fancying fatal
tiles to loved relatives. a sudden inheri-
tance of a fortune or some other out of
the common happening, nervously tears
open Clara's letter to read, why did you
not come to me at the play last night?
All my other slaves presented themselves
at our box for an audience between the
acts" and matter of a like nature.
Thanks TO Clara, We are all writing
Important" on our letters now and
Town" when we indulge in city CORE
spondence. The only incident which has
marred our faith in Clara's system hap
,pened a short time ago, and my cousin
in-law is engaged in forgetting it as rap
idly as she can. Clara had written to a
friend, accepting a dinner invitation. He
was, I believe, TO call for her. He did
not call. Clara pursed up her lips, stay
ed ut home and read several chapters in
My Lady Nicotine" of which work she
thoroughly approves, holding that it is
smart. We all felt that there had been
times when Clara was IN merrier mood.
OF course, there was an explanation.
The young gentleman had never received
Clara's letter OF, acceptance. Clara for
a time refused TO have anything to do
with the young gentleman. One day,
however, she received letter in a long,
official looking envelope bearing no
stamp. InclOsed was her own letter,
written to the young gentleman. 1t bore
the scars of many postmasters. II had
been all through Iowa in search of a
claimant. and finally was forwarded to
the Dead Letter Office in Washington.
Clara says that a postal clerk who
can't tell 't-o-w-n'' from Iowa de-
serves to be dismissed from the service
y. Y. Herald.