West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-10-26
This Doesn't Concern You

We are living. we are dwelling
In a grand and awful time:
IN. this our age on ages telling
TO be living is sublime"
Verify, with Presidential campaign
ON in America, the rich politicians arc
having a grand time; and with a kings
war on in Europe the poor soldiers are
having an awful time, but what we
started to say was that we would like
TO talk just minute anent the knights
OF the X. F.. d.. and few OF the
things they are up against.
Personally we are not a regular"
rural mail carrier. for which we thank
the Lord, but we have had little
experience as a sub" for which we
hardly know who to blame. and II is
our private opinion that there is con-
siderable room for improvement in the
rural part of the service especially.
We feel sure that you all as patrons
of the rural mail service mean well
and appreciate the value thereof, but
have you thought how you could in
crease the efficiency and assist your
servants. the faithful carriers?
Firstly, the place of your mail box
Most rural folks seem to be wonderful
economical of time. t. e. of their own
time. So they place their mail box
where they can get at II the easiest.
with no regard for the fact that i'm get
ting to it the carrier may have no end
OF difficulty, TO say nothing of wreck
ing his buggy. If you would select
the most level spot within a reason
able distance for your box, and II need
be do little grading in front OF il,
the carrier would probably feel that
your religion was Of the real practical
every day sort. We do not wish to be
too critical, as we are sure your
heart is in the right place even though
your mail box may be tackled up
against the caves of the barn, or hung
on the front porch.
Then, too, every one who appre-
ciates the rural free delivery will keep
his mail box in the best possible re-
pair, with the signal in good working
order. and his name and number
painted on the box. If you fail in this
you have no kick coming to you II you
do not get satisfactory service Also
aim to place your mail box with the
door toward the road, so the carrier
need not get out of his rig, and hunt
around for place to INSERT he mail
Some few overlook this.
Also remember that no matter how
many social functions are coming Off
the winter is coming on. and believe
me there is nothing heavenly about a
rural mail carriers job in the winter
season. So for humanity's sake do all
you can to make the carriers life en-
durable. BE sure to keep a good sun
ply of stamps on hand at all times and
stamp all mail. The penny nuisance
is something terrible in cold or wet
weather for the carrier, If YOU DON'T
believe II try It on once. He likes %
sell you stamps I'm nice weather and I'm
large quantities even though he makes
no profit thereon
Then have your mail ready I'm ad-
vance, and do not ask him to wait ON
you. You know II is weight that
breaks the poor fellows wagon down.
i. weight and the rough rock. side
ling, backwoods, hole-y. Internal
roads together II the road supervia-
ors are not all extinet il would be a
glorious thing for the mail boys II
they would see 10 II that about 300
432 stones are thrown of the roads
in divers places. No rocks larger than
a beef's head should be left on the
mail routes. but we have climbed over
some as large as hogsheads. And
that's no lie.
Last put not least. remember fho X
OF the X. f, D, are human, or would
be n given hair chance. so give 'em
a kind word once I'm a while and ON
cold stormy days cup OF hot coffee
or warm bite would cheer them nm
and make them feel that life was al
most worth living; and that perhaus
ne world was really getting better. in
stead OF worse.
II you will do these things we feel
sure the boys will respond in kind and
give your more courteous and efficient
service.
ONE OF EN-.
Funnelton, " gar get sQ