The National tribune., 1906-03-01
put very abrupt end to our CORE
spcndence."

put very abrupt end to our corre-
spcndence."
The Postmaster's Social Position.
The Postmaster I'm the small town or
village enjoys a social position that is
more honored than the position Of the
Government Official In the city. The
Village Postmaster has become q hero
in dramatic art. while the city Post
master pays his good money to see the
the small community the post Office is
common meeting place. and oppor-
tunity Is there given for discussions and
exchange OF opinion that help to iHfiu-
ence the life OF the community. This
Is not the case in the larger offices
where free delivery prevails, and the
Postmaster there has not the chance OF
making his influence felt in the neigh
borhood that his village colleague has
petition from Texas to the Post
Office Department last Winter. which
was signed by 90 of the leading citi-
Zens, complained that owing to a feud
between the Postmaster and his only
assistant, q mail carrier. who trans
ports the mail to the post office from
the railroad station. 10 miles away, they
had not received any mail for the last
10 days. The writer asserted that the
TCldIlODS between the POSTMASTER ana
his assistant had never been very cor
dial, but that recently they had a fight.
in which the Postmaster was wOrsted.
Since that time both the Postmaster
and the mail carrier were prepared to
shoot on sight.
The mail carrier got the mail every
day at the railroad but could not get
near enough to the post office to deliver
1t. He could not open the mail bags,
because the Postmaster had the key and
would not give 1t up, and the mail car
rier would not consent TO the leading
citizens rifing the bags.
The petition closed with the state
ment that the business of the town was
suspended, and that the citizens sat
around watching the Postmaster and
his assistant take an occasional shot at
one another.
Reports Under Difficulties.
Popular opinion is disposed to look
upon the Government official as rum
ming always in ruts, the slave of rou-
tine and insanely welded to the wor-
ship Of technicalities. But even routine
has it's terrors. The complicated re-
ports required of the head of a small
post office are a perennial tribulation.
Many officials, being encountered with
their merchandise affairs during bust
ness hours, seek the seclusion of the
domestic fireside in the evening for
making their reports. One of them
says: "He goes home at night, worn
out with the ceaseless struggle to do his
business rivals as they would do him,
and with the thought of the hated re-
ports hanging over him like a dark
cloud. He surrounds himself with
books. blanks, syphon and quart Of
the fount of inspiration. His family
gathers around him and plays on piano.
1oc nh nh nd or h
er wind instruments; his wife relates
her days adventures with the cook, his
youngest son seeks information concern
Ing cube root and kindred horrors, the
baby INDUCES in cholera infantum in
the adjoining apartment, and in the
midst of this beautiful domestic scene
the Postmaster compOSeS his mind for
the compilation and tabuIation Of a
mass Of figures relating to stamps,
wrappers, money orders. rent, fuel and
cancellations that would drive a Wall
Street bank teller into Mysteries. But
out Of this miscellaneous medley must
come a well-balanced account that will
pass the Auditors scrutiny, or your
humble servant will lose his job"
Some of the asperities Of official tenn
per occasionally displayed by Postmas-
tiers are undoubtedly attributable to the
unreasonableness and fnsolence of many
patrons, who assume that public ser
tdHtS may Dc Treated DIS lHIcTlOFS anu
abused or imposed on at pleasure. They
have all kinds of people to deal with.
Instructions for Patrons.
A Postmaster advises that persons
wishing their letters to go through the
mails in a hurry should always write
'in haste" on the lower left-hand cor
ner of the envelope. Then everybody
connected with the service will jump
around lively. The mail sack contain
ing it is delivered to the route clerk on
the run. The route clerk rushes ahead
and notifies the engineer to pull the
throttle wide open and the rural car
rfer whips his horse into a swift gaflop,
all In order that the instructions may
be obeyed. Nit!
Another Postmaster, made irritable
by the unending monotony of unreason-
able requests and complaints, formu-
lated the following schedule of Instruc-
lions to Patrons of his office:
"1st Ask If there is any mail for me,
we or us, because the Postmaster should
know you whether he ever saw you be-
fore or not.
sgd. Be sure to ask, is this alp
when the Postmaster gives you your
mail; 1T shows your sense, and sounds
I'D. Remember that when you expect
a letter 1t must be there, SO if you do
not get it make some sighting remark.
as it will help produce the letter at
once.
"4th. AS you are the only poverty
stricken patron of your office. let the
Postmaster furnish you envelopes and
paper free.
18th. When you mail a letter, tell
the Postmaster when to send it off