The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-11
In Postoffices of United
States They Send Christ
mas Gifts Overseas, I'm
certain That Loved Ones
May Be Alive to Receive
Them.

Them.
Washington, Dec. 11.-Women in
mourning garb and men with solemn
faces, waiting in line these days all
over the United States before post
office windows where foreign money
orders are issued, tell wordless
story Of the sorrows of wars destruc-
ton reaching across the seas to
America.
A third Christmas-time Of world
conflict has seen long lines of happy
folk, radiant with holiday spirit at
the prospect Of sending something
'home to the old folks" turned into
silent parties of mourners, sending
back money to alleviate suffering and
filled with anxiety and distress with
the uncertainty of it's safe arrival
There is also the grave uncertainty
that when a gift reaches its destina-
ton no one will be there to receive
1t.
Postal clerks have been quick to
note the change. Veterans in the SER
vice, who have been issuing Christ
mas money orders to all parts of the
globe for years, say they no longer
hear eagerly told stories of the gifts
the money was to buy. They hear
only hopes that it may arrive safely
to provide food, clothing and fire or
perhaps medicine.
The line is q little shorter and the
people average much older this year
than formerly. It's decreased num-
bers is attributed to the fact that the
government, despite determined eff
forts, is unable to guarantee safe and
speedy delivery Of money orders in
the war zone. Aid age has taken its
place in line because the sons of
many are now across the seas on the
fighting fronts.
Through the postal money order
department the United States will be
Santa Claus to far more people of
the Entente Allies than of the Gen.
trail Powers this year. Delivery of
orders in England and France have
been interfered with only slightly. No
delivery is being made in Austria,
and German points receive their or
ders late, If indeed, they get them at
all. Virtually no orders are being
sent to Russia, largely because War
saw, which was the central station
for the payment Of orders, now is in
the. war zone. This situation has af-
fected the money order receipts in
this country greatly, too, for in for
mers years Russians in the United
States led all the remaining foreign
born citizens in sending money home
at Christmas time.
Prisoners of war will receive many
money orders this Christmas. This
is particularly true in England.
where delivery is good. By an agree
ment made several years ago In a
convention of various countries to
effect a postal agreement, it was ar
ranged that orders to prisoners of
war should be transmitted free of
charge, and the United States is liv-
ing up to the agreement scrupulous-
ly.
Submarine activities have had
much to do with decreasing the
Christmas business in foreign orders.
and if the total for this year falls be-
low that for 1915 as it probably will
the underseas liners can be blamed
for much Of the decrease, according
to Third Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Dockery. ~
"Of course it is impossible to say
just how much the submarine activ-
tiles have affected the money order
business" he said, "but they haye cut
it down much"
Due to this and other causes, the
foreign money order business is in
a chaotic state 1t began to fall of
with the beginning Of the war, and
has decreased gradually ever since.
''I attribute it's decrease in great
measure also to many young mer
from the foreign countries returning
home to fight at the outbreak OF the
war. OF course they, prior to their
departure, were regular patrons, fol
few Of them did not send money
home at Christmas time particular.
ly, and often during other periods OF
the year. The older people, who are
left behind. have less money to send
With delivery in Italy and Greece
comparatively safe, natives of those
countries are leading all the rest this
Christmas in sending money home
Always q liberal people at Christ
mas time and firm Delivers in this
government as the postal savings ac
counts also show, they are literally
sending "tons of money" back home
now. Their sums vary from SIS tt
SIS, postal employees say
| The postal department is using
every effort to encourage Christina!
sending, although no false hopes o.
quick delivery are held out. Supple
mental instructions are printed IL
virtually every language, including
| Chinese and Japanese, on how t.
| make out money order, and they
| have been found very useful. The
Chinese Christmas, Of course, does
not fall on the same day as 1t does
in this country, but the Chinese are
inclined to make presents during the
American holidays as well as theil
! own.
| Norway, Sweden and Denmark
come in for a good share of the
Christmas money orders. Most OF
their former citizens in this country
| appear prosperous, it is declared, and
they are liberal at holiday times.
| Many persons who desired to SEND
holiday remembrances to friends il
Belgium, Egypt, Mexico and Portu.
| N