Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-12-02

the public. Even in our small posi
office scarcely a day passes bui
someone drops a letter in the mai
box innocent of stamp, or the address
incomplete and quite often missing
} altogether. In cases Of this kind, il
the return address Of the sender il
printed or written on the envelope
we simply return it for correction
and little delay is caused If tn,
address is lacking or incomplete, and
no return address on the envelope
there is nothing for US to do but for
ward it 10 the dead letter office,
where it viii be opened and II II
contains anything Of value or impor-
lance it will be returned to the
writer, providing IL has a signature
No postmaster is permitted TO open
first class mail. Where the neces-
sary postage is missing and no re-
turn address on the envelope, we ar
compelled to hold the letter and
notify the addpessee Of the fact with
instructions TO send the postage for
same On receipt Of the postage we
forward the letter to It's destination
bat it doesn't make your corre-
spondent altogether joyous, for It
costs him or her, as the case may be,
double postage for a letter that pos
ably isn't worth the price Imagine
. love-lorn swain proposing by mail
anxiously Rwaiting reply, only 10
get q cold and bnsiness-like card
notice from an unknown Crouch Of a
postmaster requesting him to send
two cents in stamps for a letter
addressed 10 him, but lacking
postage. He sends the stamps en-
closed in an envelope stamped on
the outside, has another dreary wait
before he gets results, and then per-
haba vshen he "Opens the letter finds
that he is advised 10 'sgo take oil
jump into the creekl" Even the |
rapture of an acceptance would be
somewhat dampened by the delay.
No parcel post packages are nov
accepted for mailing without the
sender's name and address written
or printed on the outside of same.
| would like to see this rule apply
10 letters also, but for obvious
1t is not likely that such a
rule win ever be enforced. There
are certain periods in all our lives
when our correspondence is most
precious and sacred and to be kept
Is near inviolate as possible ever.
rom the eyes Of the most unimag
native Of postmastrs, but can
lssurs these sensitive souls that few
'Ostmasters or postal employees
pend any time whatever in specu-
alton regarding the thousands o.
nissives which pass through their
lands. They seldom see anything
xcept the name of the town or
tate isl-afi outgoing Tiaii, and only 4 4
he name on incoming mail Is read
nd the letters and papers distribu
ed as rapidly as possible. Idle ?
uriosity is a trait sternly frowned
pom in all well conducted post 9
ffices. From one TO two thousand
ieces Of mail are distributed in ths
zeal post office every day, s, :
indy be patient and forgiving II you I
appen 10 find somebody else's
tier In your box. Just drop II
ack in the letter chute and we'll .
y to get it into the proper box the :
ext time. If you should accident =
ly open It before noticing the y
nor, kindly indorse your name on ,.
Ie outside Of the envelope with the u
ords "opened by mistake" and drop y
in the chute. n'
Perhaps II is already the practice, :. =
do not know, bat have thought 9. =
at childre should be taught in :,
r schools the proper method Of ad- r, =,
essing an envelope as have here o.
fore outlined IL. hesitate Is
ggest It, but also think a few -
'tures in the schoolroom in the pA
sitter of department in public Dc
aces, including the post office '"'
,by, would be beneficial to the Oa
izenry. as well as agreeable 70 the u
st office personnel. We welcome ln
, bright, CHEEKY. inquirin0 faces Of =
: young folks. but when they se'
rgt m at the door with whoops '"'
4 yells Of exuberance, possibly ma
nerated by release from od'oua 'n'
dy. It is sometimes disturbing to- =
other patrons who are irving to car
nsact business Of more or less gre
ious nature. and also q little onl
cling upon the ves-but take Tf
lcor. on paGc y leg