The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-23
GETTING THE MAIL
Suggestions to the Public for
Their Department
WHEN AT POSTOffICE
Rules OF Conduct Which, if Followed
to the Letter, Will Facilitate Pub
lie Business

Inc following suggestions, prepar
ID by postmaster who has beer
II the business for a good many
ears and who On his part always
rled to be courteous and Oblidging
followed out, will facilitate the
landling of mail and make everybod,
eel good natured:
When you go to the post office
do like you do when you go to
the mill. If the place is crowded
get in line and take your turn
at whichever window you may
happen TO have business. No
postmaster or clerk can wait up
on more than one customer at a
time.
The general delivery window of
the postOffice, for the accommo-
dation of those who, for various
reasons, do not rent boxes, tran
sient patrons and the travelling
public, is one of the most exact
ing and frequently one of the
most exasperating, nerve-trying
positions in the world, the pro-
per filling of which is rarely ap-
preciated as it should be. Through
it may be seen more traits of
human character, odd, angelical
and otherwise, than any place On
earth, for its frequenters include
all classes of people to a degree
not met with elsewhere. None
are too great nor too lOwly to
approach its portals in quest of
mail, many through an almost
positive knowledge that it will be
there, others apparently inspired
by hope that some one has
written or sent them something,
while some call seemingly through
force of habit, rarely missing a
mail or receiving as much as
a postal card.
Patrons of this very necessary
department of all postoffices will
no doubt merit the lasting esteem
of the persons in charge, and pos
sibly secure more satisfactory SER
vice by kindly observing the fol-
lowing suggestions:
Upon calling at the general de-
livery, always pronounce your
name, in the best voice that God
has given you for such purposes,
no matter how well you may
think you are known to the post
master or his clerks. Did you
ever meet a person whom you
knew perfectly yet could not in
stantly speak his name? Besides
this, the change of a hat or gar
ment, or the reflection of light
may so change ones appearance
as to render instant recognition
quite difficult.
If in a strange place, always
pronounce your name and spell
il, or at least. the first syllable.
By this means you are not near
ly SO apt to be misunderstood in
the confusion usually incident to
mail time. Many names sound
very much alike, though spelled
quite differently, and this precau-
tion should never be neglected.
Never merely ask, is there any
thing for me" "us" or "our'
fOlk?" A stranger once asked,
rs there anything for me-" at
the writer's office. The clerk
said, We'll, sir, who are your"
to which he very politely replied,
"Why, I'm Nee; John Nee"
"Oh! all right, Mr.. Nee; that's
one on me, though there is moth
ing for Nee"
If you have reason to expect mail
that is not given you, state your
case in a gentlemanly or lady
like manner, as briefly as posi-
BILE, and the matter will be cheer
fully investigated, but if some one
has merely neglected to write
you, or failed to answer a letter,
just remember that posmasters
and their clerks probably have
similar troubles of their own.
When you have been waited up
on, always step aside as soon as
YOU can, lest some one be waiting,
unobserved behind you, for mail
as important as your own.