davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

Now. this little three-inch stamp
causes more hot air" and more rcd
tape than the ordinary declaration of
war In Central America. From the big
postoffice down town all this dutiabIo or
supposed dutiable stuff Is sent over 10
Substation A. in Georgetown. and there
Inspected at the Customs House bv its
busy officials and inspectors From Q
To they open and mark and assess
and pass out to the smiling and grumb-
ling public the Christmas presents
which come in.
From Porto Rico and the Philippines.
Packages from other countries than
our insular possessions are ali liable TO
duty If the contents are Of a stated
value sufficient to warrant the collection
Of duty Of a nominal amount. but pack
ages from the Philippines and Porto
Rico and Guam are differently consti-
tuted. and hence the complications.
Under the proclamation OF President
Mckinley OF November 4. 1899. members
Of a family employed by the United
at home presents which come in free
Of duty II they are countersigned by the
employer OF the sender.
AS the average American citizen is
perhaps the best buffer insthe world.
the subterfuges employed to get these
packages I'm under this law are OF the
most amusing type. All day long they
come uD to the window at the custom
house. Each has different tale. each
a little story Of just how it happened
that George sent Mamie the work bas-
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

and called to a seat I'm the Cabinet
being the first Postmaster General to
receive that honor.
Early in 1886 pony expresses. as they
were called. were put into operation on
the principal turnpike roads of the
Southern and Western States. for the
purpose of carrying the mail of people
desiring greater expedition. newspaper
slips. and Government dispatches at tri-
pie the ordinary rate. but the expert
ment was abandoned. it not proving
profitable.
In July, 1886. the Postofice Department
was reorganized. and an officer. now
known as the Auditor for the Postofice
Department. appointed. The office of
the Third Assistant Postmaster General
was also created at that time
First Railway Service.
Railroads were declared post routes
by act of Congress in July. 1898. and
the mails carried by them. During
President Tyler's Administration Post
master General Charles ~ Wickliffe. OF
Kentucky instituted many reforms.
such as cheapening the postage. i'm
proving the mode of letting the routes
by contract. prohibiting private ex-
presses. and restricting the franking
privilege. The question of supplying
facilities for foreign correspondence be-
gan to be agitated in 1915. and in 1850
Horatio King. of Maine. afterward Post
master General. was put in charge of
it. and from this has grown the present
arrangement Of the Posta. Union
First Postage Stamps.
The postage stamp was adopted in
Great Britain in 1870 and the United
states introduced stamps of the 3 and
10 cent denominations, with the faces
Of Franklin and Washington, respective
". in 1917 Previously the postages were
collected entirely in money. its pre-
payment being in all cases optional on
the 1st Of July, 1851, new series OF
stamps was adopted. consisting at first
Of denominations of l and cents. but
afterward of larger accounts. Stamped
envelopes were first used in 1853; postal
cards in 1873. Through the efforts of
Postmaster General Nathan X Hall.
under President Fillmore, the postage
was again reduced Three cents was
made the rate when addressed to no
greater distance than 5000 miles. The
registration system was inaugurated in
| 1854. during the Administration of Presi-
ident Pierce upon the recommendation
of James Campbell. Postmaster General.
The first fee was 5 cents. but this not
nroving profitable. the price was raised.
il, 1852 TO 20 cents 1t is now s cents.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

with his defiance of the law. One man
round and taking them down for dis
missai asked TO whom he should go as
a last resort, and when the pink tie told
him Almighty God was the last person
in supreme charge he fell down the iron
steps in his wrath.
The shop girls with the wonderfully
sweet cries of cash" have slipped into
the past until the buying season is upcr,
us once again, hut the customs man and
the mail man will go through this strug-
gle until middle January. The customs
man and the postman are really heroes
after all in their quiet way, when one
happens 10 know about II.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

have to end The third day he paid the
81 and got his cigars
Hoped 1t Wasn't Much.
Now, really" giggled .. ig'rI of sew
enteen, Il do hope it isn't much. for I've
spent all my money, please, sir" And
when a pair of daintily worked hose
came forth she collapsed before the
sphinx-like pink tie into a mass of en-
barrassed femininity. a college bred
looking man of dignifed mein gingerIy
rendered small bundle of books for
inspection and awaited judgment I've
been in France" he said. collecting
works OF art. and these are some sent
over TO me by a friend over there; are
they dutiable?" He was informed that
they wuzz." He looked concerned. DO
you have to go over them car afulIy in
each case" he almost pleaded. We
duzz." he was told, and the package
proved to be literature that would nave
made BocacciO blush within his @i5ited-
est hour. They are part OF a large
collection | am making, sir. b.. Siuster-
ed. They are also "A part of large
collection we already have" he was in
formed. Because, you see, said the
pink tie. the Government forbids such
stuff to come i'm at all" ''Well. well:
Who'd thought il; well. well; I be-
clare. May / show them TO my friends
and then bring them back, please. ."
AlasI He could not do so and the office
safe held another dark secret.
"Who Are You, Young Man?"
who are you, anyway" snapped Il
portly female. all i'm furs. j don't like
this business at all. young MAJ. I've
been abroad probably before you were
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
CANNY SCOTSMEN

A NDREW CARNEGIE told several
"A good Scotch stories the other
I night One ran thus:
A ScOtChman and an Englishman went
TO see Douglas, and after Norvais great
speech the Scotchman asked his COM
panion:
What do YOU think of your Willie
Shakespeare the noo?''
Well was the answer. you have
claimed ChaUcer, Milton. SpenSer,
Wordsworth, Byron and most OF the
others; I suppose you'll be claiming
Shakespeare as Scotch
''Weel." said the Scot. yell allow
there's a prima facie case for that; We II
allow he had intellect enough
Another told of the theological dis
putes OF some shepherds. who could not
agree on the characteristics of Para
disc, until finally one old fellow said:
20. ay-that's easy-it maun be just
like the Hielan'S."
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

IT. HERE probably is not single Of
hce or business concern in the
i United States which 50 closely
affects social relations as the
postoffice. and just at Christmastide.
when our loving friends and sweet
hearts and people we've loaned money
TO take a notion To make good with
a present or so. this truth is so patent
that a mail carrier loaded down like
the ancient and historic camel he
comes the best type Of prosperous times
10 be found at large I'm the entire com
munity Domestic mails. including the
Dead Letter OfTice and the handling II
internal machines and similar tokens OF
regard. have been written about so
many times that we know all about
them and we do not wish to hear any
more. There is another branch of the
Federal mail service. however. which
for the man with sense Of humor af-
gords SO many points worth noting
that a word thereon just At this season
will suffice to show its brighter side.
Liable to Customs Duties.
This branch is the foreign mail de-
partment in the big cities. Washington
altogether is a pretty well-to-do town,
and the influx Of gifts from abroad is "A
keynote TO the immense shifting popula-
ton OF the United States. which covers
the earth TO its uttermost part All
packages which are supposed TO con
tain anything of dutiable nature are
stamped at the port Of arrival with
little red stamp which reads Supposed
liable 10 customs duties"
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
"Who Are You, Young Man?"

who are you, anyway" snapped
portly female. all in furs. i don't like
this business at all. young m9I4. I've
been abroad probably before you were
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

ket. OF Maud sent Charlie the box OF
cigars.
Many "Kickers"
Many Of them pay tho duty and smil-
ingly depart. but just about half Of
them kick. one thin young lady with
perfectly beautiful complexion and the
tenderest little voice was almost broken
hearted because she had to pay duty on
fifty cigars the other day. They were
sent her. she said. by nurse. "A very
dear girl friend whom she had known in
Manila. when she was over there visit
ing some army relatives. The dear girl
friend signed herself Sergeant So-and-
SO. Of the Hospital Corps. and her first
name was Thomas. according to the
countersigning % the box. and the poor
tired man with the pink tie behind the
window entered up the charge and col
Iected the duty and bade her Happy
New Year
Wanted the Law Changed.
one fat gentleman wanted to know
to whom h. could go to have the law
changed. and lie was referred TO Con
gress. and the twenty-five cigars sent
him were ordered by the fat gentleman
to be held pending legislation favoring
his little graft a very dashing Mrs.
Somebody rushed in about the closing
hour Christmas Eve and demanded to
know just why her simple handker-
chief and her pair Of gloves had to be
all fused up by a dirty man just for
spite. Do you have 10 open .hat
bundle?' she cried In wrath that was
beautiful TO see. "Yes'm," drawled the
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
Short History the Managed
Periods

duty to establish an intercolonial post,
proving himself very successful He
visited all the colonies. was trusted i'm
plicitly. and satisfied each colony of his
ability and resources in the new ven
ture
The cooperation of all the colonies
except Virginia having been secured,
service began on May 1. 1888 and con-
sisted Of weekly post from Ports
mouth. n. H., to Boston. Saybrook,
New York, Philadelphia. Maryland. and
Virginia Five riders were engaged to
cover each of the five stages twice
week. In winter. service was performed
fortnightly. Hamilton died in 17O9, and
his son, John Hamilton. succeeded him.
In 17O7, the Crown purchased the good
will of the American Post Office, for
e1 .664, and continued John Hamilton as
Postmaster General with an annual sal
airy of e20O.
The Act of 1910.
The acquisition of the American post
in 1907 found the Postmaster General OF
King William at the head Of an i'm
perial post co-extensive with the Brit
ish Empire The logical result was the
great act of I71O. From 1907 to the year
before the Revolution. the General Post
Office in London controlled the service in
America. Its growth was steady and
improved each year. In 1711 there was a
weekly mail operation between Boston
and Maine, and fortnightly exchange
between Boston and New York In I7I7
the mail ran weekly between New York
and Williamsburg, Va, and ten years
later there was a fortnighuy mail be-
tween Philadelphia and Annapolis. Nd.
The period Of activity in the establish
ment Of postal facilities began when
Benjamin Franklin was appointed post
master at Philadelphia. This was in
1737. At the request Of the Deputy
Postmaster General for the Colonies. he
assisted him in the regulation and man
agement of the various postohices then
established. and when that official died
in 175S. Franklin in company with VIII
liam Hunter. was appointed 90 succeed
him. In consequence of some difficulty
with Governor Hutchinson, OF Massa-
chusetts. Franklin was removed in I774
First United States Office.
But Franklin was not TO remain idle.
for when the Continental Congress met
at its second session in Philadelphia.
July 2e. 1775, its members resolved 20
have "A postofiice system OF their own.
and Franklin was elected to carry ON
the work. A salary Of $1,000 per ann1tn
was voted him, and permission given to
appoint secretary and comptroller.
with salary Of $40 per annum each
However Franklin's great diplomatic
talents secured him. soon afterward. a !
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

born. sir: hand me that stuff at once or
I'll report you" The tie eyed the phone
smiIingIy and as politely as possible in
timsted that it was generally used for
such purposes by the unhappy rich. but
the protest was never made and the dia-
mond cigar case from Germany went
the regular and righteous way of the
receipted duty package.
Hundreds of Packages.
And so IL goes at this busy season.
Four hundred packages since Christmas
Eve have been opened and discussed
and in addition the regular work has
to go on. The camel with the mail sack
jumps from door to door with the do
mestic mail and the man with the pink
tie looks over the stuff from abroad
from dawn till sundown. One of these
faithful men gets to work on his rec
ords at 6 each morning in order To
get through his work. The girls. the
dear, delightful girls. make it so easy.
though. They just hate everybody so.
They hate the man who dared to send
them such a foolish thing as all that. -
and they hate the man who is so rude
as to look at it and grin. and then hate
the Government they cali their own.
and tnen they go out and drown their
sorrows in a hot chocolate"
The Man With Pet Grievance.
The man with th~ pet grievance
Gsdinst the Government is the hardest
nam TO handle because ne always knows
sorse ono so big that he swells up him
self and jabs his cane through the win
dow and worries everyone 20 death
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
. HE postal service of this country
J managed for the people by Uncle

IT HE postal service of this country
is the greatest business concern
managed for the people by Uncle
Sam. It's history. which dates
back more than 80 years. should prove
Of especial interest at this time, the
Postofice Department having been
prominent in the public eye for the past
year.
This country's postal history has four
well defined periods: Colonial. up to
1893; under the Neale patent. 1888 to 1907 ::
under the control of the general post
office in London. 1907 TO IVA; American
control in two divisions, I774 to the pres
ent; 1774-i7Ss. under Congress, and 17Ss to
the present. the Postoffice Department
Of the United States
First American Postofice.
In 1859 the postoffice first made its ap-
pearance in this country. Massachu-
setts seems to have been foremost in
its establishment. The general court
Of that colony issued the following in
1879:
1T is ordered that notice be given
that Richard Fairbanks. his house in
Boston. Is the place appointed for all
letters which are brought from beyond
the seas, or are sent thither. to be left
with him; and he is to take care that
they are to be delivered or sent accord
ing to direction; and he is allowed for
every letter a penny. and he must an
swer all messages through his neglect
in this kind In 1861 a postal service
was established in Virginia The colo
NAL law required every planter to pro-
vide a messenger to convey the dis
patches as they arrive. to the next
plantation, and so on, on pain Of for
feiting hogshead of tobacco for de-
fault In 1872 the government OF New
York established "A mail ITO go month
ly'' between New York and Boston. IN
1874 the general court at Hartford en-
acted laws to regulate the postal ser
vice in the colony. In July. 1888. VIII
liam Penn established a postofice in
Philadelphia with weekly mails to va
rious places near the city. and about
the same time opened mail routes be-
tween Philadelphia and the larger
towns of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
In 1928 a postoffice was esta blished bv
the colony. but this was passed to CO.
operate with the service under the
Neale patent These represent the sew
cral colonial enactments in relation to
postal communication. OF a regular
post outside these efforts, no trace can
be found in the archives Of either the
State or the Postoffice Department. As
between residents in the different colo
nies. private correspondence was car
ried mainly by coastwise vessels. or oc-
casional travellers
The Thomas Neale Patent.
The beginning OF the American post
dates with the signing Of patent. Feb
ruary Il. 1851. vesting i'm Thomas NeaIe.
the American Post. on the 4th OF April
following, Neale and the Royal Post
master General appointed Andrew
Hamilton Postmaster General Of Amer
lea. Hamilton undertook the arduous
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
Advertised" Letters.

An act of Congress made it the duty
of postmasters to publish quarterly. OF
oftener. whenever the Postmaster Cen
eraI n ight direct, a list of letters re-
naming in their offices; and once every
quarter TO forward those that could not
be delivered TO the department at Wash
ington. The rural free delivery service
is the last adjunct to the postal service.
but. Notwithstanding it's youth, It
promises to outgrow some Of the older
branches Of the department. 1t was es-
tabIished under President Mckinley. in
1897 That year forty-four routes were
put in operation. The service has grown
to such an extent that for the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1903, Congress ap-
priated for the maintenance OF this
branch Of the postal service the enor-
nous sum of $S,O54. 400; there were 1918
routes in operation, with 11,7OO petitions
pending.
The Washington times., 1904-01-03
The Thomas Neale Patent.

The beginning OF the American post
dates with the signing Of a patent. Feb
ruary Il. 1Gel. vesting in Thomas NeaIe.
the American Post. on the 9Th OF April
following, Neale and the ROYAL Post
master General appointed Andrew
Hamilton Postmaster General Of Amer
lea Hamilton undertook the arduous
The Washington times., 1904-01-03

During the Administration Of President
Lincoln the free delivery service was
established AS early as 1875 provision
was made by Congress for the delivery
of letters by carriers at a cost of
cents each to the persons receiving
them In 1896 this was further amended
by allowing newspapers and pamphlets
TO be delivered at half a cent each
In 1863 Postmaster General Blair intro
duced the free delivery system. COM
mencing the practice in cities Of $1,000
population. Receiving boxes were also
put up and deliveries provided for as
often as the public convenience de-
manded- The next great step forward
in postal improvement was the estab-
lishment of the Railway Mail Service.
The idea of a railway postofice was
first brought officially to the notice of
the department by First Assistant POST
master General Hobbie. who. in 1S47, had
been in Europe. and in his report gave
his impressions of the travelling post
Office in England
Railway Postofices.
Under Postmaster General Holt. IN
July. 1852 the first railway postohice
was introduced in this country In 1854
the leading railroads were induced to
alter their cars for the purpose of the
railway postof5ce. and from that time
this service has grown until now it is
a model institution of its kind in the
world.
The money order system was estaD-
lished in 1854 under the administrator
of Postmaster General Blair. In ordeE
TO accommodate soldiers and others
wishing to transmit small sums OF
money he advised the Incorporation OF
this idea in our postal system. At It's
Inauguration only 13s Offices were al
lowed to issue orders. The number has
increased to 34547, which. during shs
last fiscal year. issued A. 5.941, ,6S1 domestic
money orders.
The Dead Letter omce dates back to
IS25
The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-06-03
Miss camby's Piano Recital.

The thirteenth annual concert of
Miss Kate Gamsby's music pupils
took place at the Ocala House Tuesday
night and was a most pleasant and
entertaining event. In the musical
circles of our city Miss Gamsby's con-
cert is always looked forward to with
the greatest pleasure and is always
greatly enjoyed.
The audience was a large and
cultured one and the applause
received by the young players showed
how mGch their music was enjoyed
and appreciated.
Rev. Henry w. Little, in the
delightful manner that is so entirely
his own announced the numbers on
the program and also presented the
medals.
The program was composed of nine
teen numbers, the youngest members
of the class performing first and Miss
Peyser, who is regarded as Ocala's most
accomplished and talented musician,
played the last number, which was
in truth a musical treat.
The mem bers of the class were
Alice Sexton, Mable Meffert, Merle
Biggs, Helen Brown, Una Taylor,
Norton Davis, Clarence Zewadski,
Hope Robinson, Ethel Haycraft, Nell
lie Gottlieb, Alta Pearson, Anna
Mixou. Mary Gates, Sara Davis, Mary
Burford, Jean Austin aud Lillian
Anderson.
In the senior class the gold medal
was won by Jean Austin and the
Junior class silver medl was awarded
to Clarence Zewadski. In awarding
the medal Mr.. Little made a most
charming talk, pleasing the scholars
and the audience generally.
This very pleasant evening was con-
Guided with the singing OF "Amer-
lea" by the entire audience.
The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-06-03
A QUIET WEDDING.
Mr.. Raysor and Miss Lester Mar
ried last Night.

At $50 O'Clock Wednesday night
Mr.. Ben E. Raysor and Miss Perla
Lester were united in marriage.
The wedding took place at the home
of the brides uncle and aunt, Mr..
and Mrs. 5. A. STANDBY on Ocklawa-
ha avenue and was very quiet one.
Only the immediate relatives of Mr..
RaysOr and Miss Lester were present.
The ceremony was performed in the
parlor, which had been very prettily
decorated with evergreens and pink
carnations. To the strains of LOhen-
gren's wedding march played by Miss
EIOise Miller, the bride and groom
entered the parlOr from the library
and IN a short and impressive service,
Rev. l.. w. Moore, pastor of the
Methodist church made them man
and wife.
The bride wore - lovely dress of
white silk tissue over tsfeta, with a
wee touch of gold in the trimmings.
She carried bouquet of white carna-
tons and was a sweet and girlish
looking bride. She has made her
home in Ocala for several years and
has made many friends, who wish her
every happiness in her married life.
Mr.. RaysOr is one of our most active
and enterprising young business men
and besides being largely engaged in
truck growing, principally water
melons and cantalOupes is broker
and has been quite successful. Start
ing at the foot of the ladder he has
won out on true push and merit.
Mr.. and Mrs. Raysor for the present
are AT home with Mr.. RaysOr's
parents on Ocklawaha avenue. The
first of July they will go to st. Louis,
New York and other cities and when
they return will live in the cot
tage just back of the RaysOr place,
which they recently purchased.
The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-06-03
In MEMORIeM.

To the Master and Warden and Members of
Marion Dunn Lodge F. and A. NJ. No. I9.
Your cOmmitte appointed to draft
resolutions referring TO the death of
orr late brother, James NJ. Benton,
beg to make report and submit the
following:
Whereas, it has pleased the Great
Architect of the Universe in His all
wise providence to call to the Grand
Lodge above, our brother, James NJ.
Benton,
Therefor be it resolved by Marion
Dunn Lodge, No. 10.
First: That our city mas lost ali
upright citizen and good man ahd a
Mason.
Second: That this lodge has lost a
member of whose record we all feel
proud.
Third: That the heartfelt sympathy
of this lodge be and the same is here
by extended to his family in this,
their great hour of trial with the
prayer of the q. A. U. that He will
bless to them this mysterious vista.
ton of His Providence.
Fourth: That these resolutions be
spread on the minutes Of this lodge
and a copy be sent to his family and
also to the Ocala Banner and Ocala
Star for publication.
Ocala, Florida, May oath. 1904.
w. c. LINDSAY,
q. =. SCOTT,
E. w. DAVIS,
Committee.