The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-11-07

doms-at London, Edinburgh and Dub
lin-as well as in New York and the
West Indies.
1t must not, however, be supposed
that the American colonies waited for
the establishment Of this governmental
postotfice branch in New York. Long
before the time when the American
Office was established a system of mail
service had been in operation. History
does not give-nor could it nave been
expected to giYe-the time nor the
manner of the actual beginning of a
mail service in Am erica.
Royal or governmental messages
were usually carried to the state by a
special messenger, although some docu-
ments of lesser Importance might have
been transported in less formal and
also less expensive manner. Personal
letters, however, had to be sent, and
the senders of these could not, as a
rule, afford to hire a special messenger
to carry them, especially if they were
to go from England to Maryland.
The shippers Of vessels, whether they
travelled from colony to colony or from
one sea coast to the other, were soon
impressed into service as letter carriers,
and when a ship was scheduled to clear
for some foreign port it became a COM
mon practice for those wishing to com
municate with residents of the destina-
ton towns to int. Jst to the captain or
some official of the ship nail matter for
the people whose home the vessel was
to visit.
1t is not difficult to see how the sailing
vessel in those days, therefore, came to
wear as WELDON an appearance as the
letter carrier does day to the average
citizen. The vess-l not only brought
foreign papers, but it would a > carry,
in addition to this mail matter. the
latest news cu--e,t in lis asst port, and
this was convey by We I of mouth
from the ilors to the colonists.
Looking / eek, one can see how the
sight of the ship still great distance
off-would arouse great interest, and
how its final arrival at its mornings
would find the landing we'll crowded
with eager and curious spectators, some
expect'~g letters and others simply
there to hear the latest news of the
great world, which in those days was,
in truth, very big world.
AS the sending Of letters became
more common there naturally arose
difficulties which are encountered TODAY
In the postal service. For instance, a
letter might be addressed to man at
some port from wr'ch he had already
removed or who { ing its passage had
died, and if he left no h~ir, or admins
traitors then the letters were thrown
upon the hands Of someone who filled
the part today played by the Dead Let
ter Office. At all events, there arose a
need that some particular place should
be desis latod as the recognized station
for depositing letters for colonists, and
very naturally the coffee house was
chosen.
The coffee /, \ lose day was an
influential i-c,,r in the public and
socia'--'ife Of a community. Here con
gregated the men and the small
of the land, and the latter were edited
by the discourse Of their learned fellow
citizens, while the great men, no doubt,
were frequently amused by the small
talk of their less richly endowed country
men.
At all events, the c5f. house or
coffee houses were in those days, both
in Europe and America, much what the
club is today in the social world and
people, it must be remembered, had
fully as much time to employ at idle
g ssip as the m 0ay 4 r'cbmln Of
mooeia times.
In the natural course of evolution the
coffee house became the postoffice, and
here was deposited not only the mail
brought.by an incoming vessel COR the
colonists, but here, too, were left let
tiers to be sent by some vessel expected
to sail from the port to foreign lands.
The coffee house proprietor became
practically, if not actually, the post
master of the town
The coffee house postoflice could
spread its usefulness; thus it expanded
from the cleer'-g hoase-ct ship mail tC
a place for the interchange of inland
mail A colonist wishing to send d
message to another colonist might find
the distance between them too great to
be travelled for the delivery Of the letter,