The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-18
6, ,OOO, OOLetters In g Years
 Postman Turns Gardener
Home And Flowers Says c. A. Buff, Half Reluc-
 tant, Retiring

Next Thursday afternoon about 1 o'clock Charles A. Buff will return to the post office from his rounds as let ter carrier for Uncle Sam, say goodbye to his fellow postal employees, and re turn to his little home in West End and his flowers; for Friday will be his sixty-seventh birthday, and Uncle Sam has rule that nobody can work for him in the postal service after reaching his sixty-seventh year.
 In the natural course of things Mir Buff would have been retired on a gov ernment pension two years ago but al his own request the Postmaster General allowed him two more years of serv- ice. Now, however, he has no discre. tion in the matter, and the postal re. tiremenr laws must take their course.
 Charles A. Buff, one of the oldest carriers in Alabama, and a veteran oi g years service with the Birmingham post office, wiN go back to his private pursuits with the good wishes of his fellow employees and a record of faith full performance of duty that Postmaster R. B. Smyer refers to as model for younger postal employees to emulate but he will go back reluctantly. It is hard to change one's habits based after 32 years, he says.
 Letter From New
 Mir. Bluffs record has been brought to the attention of Postmaster General Harry s. New, who took time from his official duties to write him a personal letter of reorganization and good wishes upon the completion of his years of service with the Birmingham post office,
 turing all this time," the letter stat. ed, you have gone about your duties, faithfully serving your government, your supervisory officials and the many people with whom your duties brought you in contact. Such service as men of your type render day after day has caus. ed people to consider the work of the post office department as an activity up on which they depend entirely. It forms the strength which enables the postal service to continue as great, human enterprise. As you relinquish your duties the officers of the department join me in the sincerest hope that, in ad. dition to the personal satisfaction which must be yours as you look back over the years of faithful service, you will find new and interesting experiences in tnG ACASuIG yOu uANG EHEuEus l EGSDGCt your accomplishments and feel it a priv. ilege to approve your request"
 If one may judge from a conversa- tiOn with the retiring letter carrier, it IS easy to see that affection in which he is held by his fellow employees and officials is fully returned. He refers to Uncle sam as "the best boss in the world and is enthusiastic in his praise of the postal service.
 "It was not just chance that caused me to stick on the job as a letter car rier so long," he told an Age-Herald reporter a few days ago, in discussing his retirement. T like the work. It is as healthy as almost any other that a fellow eOull find, with most of the time spent outdoors. Uncle Sam sees to it that we don't have to work toe long and makes us stop when our eight hours are up. It is seldom that any difficulty arises, but when it does we are sure to get a fair hearing of our grievances and justice. The postal service is all right"
 Born In Germany
 Mir. Buff was born in Saxony, Ger many, not far from Dresden, May 23, 1857, but came to the United States WnHe comparatively young. He came to Birmingham in 1886 from Cincin- natt, taking whatever jobs presented themselves as a means of earning a liv- ing. He entered the postal service August l, 1891, in the administration of President William Henry Harrison.
 The civil service tests had not been extended to the carriers in offices like Birmingham" he said, land I received my appointment directly from Postmas- ter R. l.. Houston without any for malities whatsoever. Business waa pretty bad, and could not get a good job in my line at that time. I knew Mir. Houston personally, and when he asked me if would be interested in a job with the postoffice department I was glad to get it. I have been glad since, too"
 There is nothing very exciting or