The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-18
MISSouLA SENDS
BEST TO SAMMEE
Boys" in Camp and Trench
to Have Merry Christmas
From Home.
POsTOFFlCE SECRETS
Hour at Parcel Desk Gives
Insight Into Spirit Of
War Giving.

Will the Sammecs from MisSoula
get many Christmas packages?
We'll. say. Evidently you haven't
had much business to attend to at tho
postoffcc during the past two weeks
Maybe you didn't see the gray
haired mothers, the wistful-cyed
swccthcarts aud the proudly conscious
little sisters who have been inanirng
how much the postage is to American
axe. to New York. to Camp Kelly and
to numerous Other national canton
ncnts in the United States. or whether
i. is bcs, to insure parcels going to
France.
Parcel Post Window Secrets.
No? Well you should have been
with the reporter who spent an hour
each day standing by the parcel post
window. You should have talked to
Postmaster Lister and his assistants,
" no opened and examined the pack
agcs--ycs. according to government
orders--and you should have con-
ycrsed With the man who sold the
stamps.
just take a trip back into last week.
Imagine yourself standing on the ont
skirts Of the crowd, just to the right
OF the parcel post windows. Now you
have the setting. The curtain goes up.
Mothers Gifts to the Soldier.
First comes an elderly lady. Her
eyes are shining like far-off stars be-
hind her gold trimmed glasses and she
is fondIing 4 carefully wrapped pack
age to her breats. The box Is a big
one with the address precisely PEN
uilcd.
She walks up to the window with
sure steps. and lays her bundle down
where all can see. She is a mother
"a blanket, pillow, some ginger
bread, my picture and a Bible are In
the package" she explains as she
turns to leave.
Fudge and Cake from the Dorm.
Next in line Is a girl, a typical CO. ed
| with rudy checks. She draws heI
bAndlc from beneath her coat, and a:
she does SO fraternity pin shines To-
an instant before the coat drops bacl
into place.
Tell them to handle my package
carefully" she whispers to the clerk
It's got fudge and cake in it, and
don't want it to get mashed
The Paby's Wash. Rag.
Just a head of bobbinS curls is Wis
ible this time. Then two up-liftc
hands, attached to "a little body stand
ing on tip toes, place Il little packag
on the shelf.
"Thith it'll "A wath-rag | knitted my
self" she announces loudly an
$ proudly. Then, in Il lisping whisper
| this for Mllie. at Camp Lc"ith. an
muvver said you'd put tn sthamps o
: Here's tn money
|, Big sister bushes and laughs as 81
: lifts the little tot out of the way. Ii
: sisters are habitually embarrassed l
$ little sisters. Then she slides her con
tribution through the window.
: gives and, bounccS back as the clCl
places the registered stamp upon
II is a sweater and the results of oil
months hard knitting.
Here, stand closer to the wall. TT
crowd is growing larger
Fathers Proud Canouflayc.
Look. here comes father. See no
5 loosely he is carrying that carton
cigarettes. with perhaps u ten dolli
bill wrapped in 1t" See how he puff
= on his cigar with affected careless
l ness?
Watch him as he approaches Il
window. See, he losses 1t under Il
:. grating as il it were nothing. That
ii AL done to hide the Searning for h
u boy that Is gnawinG Mt his heart, Al
II which he knows it is manly to COZ
y ceal.
y THE stamps arc on it," he srun'
ship it to Rock Island, Illinois,
And then 1t is all repeated Moth
appears again. then the girl he lie
behind" then little sister. and b
V sister and father. The same manne
n isms. the same sentiment and the san
q bluff are repeated. Just diffcrc
lmothcrs and swccthcarts and sister
- that's all.
$, The Postoffice Censor.
+. Now. skeptical one. step around II
. way and into the room where I
bundles are being opened and mark
with the stamp of the censor.
Sure, Postmaster Lister will Mt
in. Listen, he is talking.
1.-THE presents to the Sammccs 4
. mostly made up Of blankets, swcate
and warm clothing. Very few usclc
gifts are found among the package
There. Go back to your work a
rest assured that Santa Claus h
visited every camp. school and trcn
that holds Il Missoula boy.