The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-12-09

Although this unique sale takes place at the
national capital. the purchasers are BY no
meaus limited to persons residing or visiting
ct the seat Of government. The postodee de-
partment issues thousands Of cataiogues-this
years catalogue is a book Of 235 pages-of its
novel sacrifice sale. and these are mailed to all
parts Of the United States upon request. SO
many out-oftown residents desire to bid for
the articles put Up for sale that there has OF
cate years developed a distinct field Of aetiv-
lty In Washington for brokers'" who act on
behalf Of absent clients in bidding on d~eslgnat
ed articles as per the Instructions sent them.
No person who has not attended one OF
these quaint sales can have an adequate con.
ception of the number and begildering variety
OF the articles which are annually lost IN the
mails with no elew TO the owners. For, be It
explained, only a fraction OF the total number
Of articles that 60 astray In the mails ultimate
~ ind their way 10 this picturesque clearance
sale. The major portion OF the waits Of the
malls that are consigned 10 the Dead Letter
once because Of lack or absence Of address or
any other cause ultimately find their way to
their rightful owners. thanks to the exception
al discernment OF the "blind readers and 9th.
Or tracers Of lost letters In this branch Of the
postal institution. Il is only the letters and
parcels that are absolutely baming In their
lack OF means Of Identification. that have a
chance OF finding their way into the stock Of
the Christmas bargain sale.
Even at that there Is a further sitting OF
these unidentified postal victims for after the
experts Of the Dead letter omce are forced
20 abandon hope Of tracing the origin or IN.
tonded destination Of a atrayed parcel, the
waif IS held At The Dostonnoe department for a
year IN the hope that the owner may on his
own Initiative apply TO the department for bis
miasiag property and thus enable It's restora-
ton. when. finally. there seems 70 be no hope
81 reading the riddle by this means. either. the
unclaimed parcel is consigned 70 the great an.
nual auction sale.
IA is a gooiul commentary on the proportion
OF our citizens who evidently do not know how
20 take the first step 20 trace articles lost in
khe mails that this annual postal sale contains
thousands upon thousands Of articles. There
are upward Of 1000 different lots" In a few
instances a "lot" consists Of a single article,
but as a rule. each item comprises from six 20
awelyo separate articles. which are thus
grouped because Of similarity OF character or
sor sons Other reason. Many OF the unclaimed
articles are Of such mail value. individually,
that the thought might suggest Itself that the
fOsers had not considered Il worth while 20
grace them. but on the other hand there
ere hundred OF really valuable articles inolu-
ding numbers Of diamond rings. gold and 80.
yer watches and other pieces Of iewelry.
re some readers the question may naturally
Draaent itself Of why this sale g held each
vear iust al Christmas time. The reason ad-
kanced by tho prosaic p~ostoiiee department Is
fhat Il Is the natural time for a clearance sale
olnce 4 Is the season when tho work OF the
c.lendar year Is being brought 10 q close and
obviounly il IS desirable TO clear out the ca
paeious store rooma Al the postal headquarters