Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-02-24
USES AND ABUSES OF FREE DELIVERY.
Mails Stuffed With Worthless nauisitorial Circulars
to Detrimsnt OF Service

EDITOR CENSOR: The people living
on small delivery routes much appreci-
ate the visits of the mail carrier this
bitter winter. His coming with the
letter from the absent one, the word of
cheer from a friend, the daily paper and
latest magazine is the event of the day
TO many shut.in one and surely adds
much to the pleasure of the farm home.
Bnt is not this good effort of Uncle Sam
being prostituted by the burden of use.
less circulars that are sent broadcast
over the country2 For example, / re.
ceive from various sources letters say.
ing. Your name was given as as re.
liable business woman, and we would
like you TO canvass for medicine, pic
lures, household novelties or some other
truck buy package of medicine
and soon comes a letter saying, we
| hear you are afflicted with such q COM
plalnt etc. Mr.. Drug Store must have
told that, for no one else knew we
| bought 1t, and perhaps we bought it for
grandfather. We are willing the neigh
bors should know the medicine we use
and how often we take dose and dom I
object to 1t being known within the linn
Its OF our own state, but surely we may
draw the line there. Because | grow a
few verbenas, self-sown, and a few ger
| an1ums, wintered in the cellar, am re-
ported as being a lover of flowers. "
and the deluRe comes of cAralogus, cir
culars, etc. | wish to purchase a cock
erel of special breed and correspond
with dealers in fancy poultry. Tmmedi-
ately am besieged with requests to be
agent in my locality for incubators.
trap nests, egg makers, lice killers, etc
Now we firmly believe in the old hen.
free range, good grain, eternal vigilance
and birthstone and have no time to can
vass. / write to inquire the price of
ginseng roots. Receiye reply that they
have none for sale but have organized
a company and wish me to buy stock
Soon a letter come "You wrote us in
regard to buying stock in our ginseng
company, etc. What whopper. we
did nothing of the kind. We believe in
the stock that runs in the pasture ia
summer, and distributes without COM
pulsion" weekly dividend Of butter at
20 cents per pound.
A friend interested in psychic research
subscribes for little paper for Us and
Immediately we receive sample copies
of magazines advocating spiritualism,
astrology, palmistIy, etc One letter
states, lyon are not member of The
Order of the Iron Cross" Indeed we
hope mott and offers for 81. 90 to send us
some kind of brick bat to gaze at in
solitude to calm the soul, etc. We be-
lieve in warming the feet and plying
the knitting as q good remedy for ner-
vousness, and the practice Of the relig-
ion of Abon Ben Adheim to develop the
soul. Another letter wants us to Join
Mystic Seven" whatever that is,
car-barn bandits vegetarians, or soul
hunters.
We cured twn hams last spring, and
we receive letter saying, a friend OF
yours informs ne you prepare meat for
summer use" and wants us to buy CON
densed smoke. Now who told on us,
or whom did we invite TO supper last
summer when we had boiled ham, And
SO on for many things that ! do not try
to find any clue as to how they got my
name. Now multiply by three the
number of circulars get, and you have
the amount received by the head of the
house. Other persons are probably
served in the same ratio, unnecessary
work put upon the postal service. Mean
time the carriers mail bags are hulging
the mali box is crowded and my precious
letters and the important business let.
ters must take their chances among a
lot Of stuff / neither need or desire
One remedy for this is: Don't send any
ones name in response to an advertis-
ment. L. r.. GoTT
Viroqua, February 10, 1904