The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-12-16
MAILING PRESENTS
UNCLE SAM ISSUES USEFUL IN
FORMATION.

By Observing a Few Simple Rules
Persons May Save Themselves and !
Postofice Clerks Trouble.
Just now with Christmas less |
than two weeks off, Kriss Kringle's
busy season is coming at rapid i
rate Not only have the retail shops !
everywhere made their preparations
already for the yuletide by display
ing their most tempting and attrac-
tive wares, but there are many other
signs showing the season Of good
cheer to be near at hand. The head
of the house hurries to workshop,
mill and Office loaded with the sea-
sons cIering for friends far and
near, and takes his place in the long
line before the stamp windows at
the many postoffices awaiting his
turn to weigh his gifts and plac.
them in Uncle Sans safe keeping
for delivery
And it is just here that Uncle
Sam-always kind and generous to
his 90,000,000 people-comes for
ward with some timely Christmas
suggestions and tells all Of his
friends, big and little, how to enjoy
to the fullest the holiday time. These
suggestions are in the form of in
formation for Christmas shoppers
who send their gifts through the
mails from one part Of this big
country to the other, and by the due
observance Of these simple rules,
persons may save both themselves
and the tired-worn-out clerks at the
postofhce much needless worry and
trouble.
Uncle Sans first chapter in the
little primer that he has just is
sued, tells the people first to pro-
vide themselves with a generous sup
ply of good, stout cord, plenty of
strong wrapping paper, and, if nee
essary, to prevent damage, some
light pasteboard boxes, after all the
gifts that are to be sent out through.
the mails have been bought. Then
, after the bundles are wrapped and
tied and duly marked, provide your
self with a set of library scales that
will cost not more than half a dol
lar.
Now your preSnetS will be divided,
according to Uncle Sans methods Of
doing business he does con-
siderable amount Of it at times
into two classes, either third" or
forth" and, perhaps, most Of them
will fall into the last named classi-
fcation, though books, it must be
remem bered, comes in the third
. class. Provide yourself with plenty
of stamps and dc not forget to Sc.
cure generous supplay Of the one
cent kind for the odd cents that win
be needed to send your gifts out
. Take your packages and weigh
them carefully on the scales you
have previously bought, or perhaps
borrowed from a neighbor, and re-
member that these are the require
ments: One cent for each ounce
or part Of an ounce, except seeds,
: bulbs, roots and plants, which cost
only half as much, and which will
go to all parts Of the United States
for one cent each two ounces. See
that no packages weigh more than
four pounds as that is the limit,
and those in exces of that weight
will be rejected.
Should you wish to present your
!, friends with books, these will come
i under the third class, and the re-
!. :. Quirements will be one cent for every
: two ounces-or just half that of
the ordinary Christmas gift.
The next chapter in the primer
tells Uncle Sans people what to
: place on the wrapper, envelope tag
or label in order to insure speedy
transportation and delivery. In ad-
dition to the name and address Of
f the addressee, there may be writ
S ten OF printed the name, occupation
I and residence of the sender, preceded
: by the word FROM" but nothing
} else that would SAVIOR Of personal
{ correspondence.
There is no objection to placing
; cards inside the boxes or packages
!; bearing such words as with love. y
} merry Christmas happy New
: Year" or some similar greeting suit
: able to the occasion, but there must
be absolutely nothing more. Any
addition to this is a violation of tn.
postal regulations, and subjects the
sender to a fine Of $1,000 or to i'm
prisonment for long period In one
, Of the Government penitentiaries.
: I'VE frequently find" said one Of
} Uncle Sans posto; flee officials to-
) day. that many women and children
and sometimes men also-violate
the lawts in sending letters-which
are GrSt class matter IN packages
under fourth class, or lower rates.
Of course, there are many cases of
this character that we do not pros
acute. because, upon investigation, il
is found that the violations have not
been wilfully committed, but are
the result of ignorance No writing
whatever should be placed inside
the ordinary package, but a card
bearing suitable greeting and this
can be done in three or four words.
OF course. when we have reason to
suspect that pepole are doing thi;
to evade the payment of letter pos
tage, prosecution follows. and they
usually pay the fine. and the case
ends there. Many persons who have
joIa