Article September 28, 1899 Issue

Miscellany

Free delivery of the mails in rural districts seems to be every way desirable, and it is most gratifying to be assured that before long all districts, except those with very sparse population, will obtain it. The Postoffice Department's experiments in several localities have been so successful, that it is safe to predict a large extension of free postal delivery before the beginning of the twentieth century. Figures recently published concerning the operation of the system in Montgomery Country, Indiana, show that the enlightened and enterprising policy of the Postmaster-General is very highly appreciated by the people. During the first month of the free delivery experiment in this county each of the carriers delivered about one thousand pieces of mail matter; their routes on an average being thirty miles long. At the end of the first year the carriers were delivering more than five thousand pieces a month. During the first three months they would collect from eight to ten letters daily; now they collect fifty or sixty letters every day besides many packages. When the free delivery began, not a single newspaper was taken along any of the routes; now, every carrier delivers from seventy to one hundred newspapers every day; and weekly papers and magazines are taken in greatly increased numbers. It is needless to dwell on the significance of such facts. They speak for themselves of the educational and social value of the new system. It is a wholesome development, which adds to the natural attractions of country residence for those who can choose where they will dwell, and it will do something to lessen the drift of population to the cities, a consummation most devoutly to be wished.—The Church Standard.

The discoverer of the literary parallel to the Dreyfus trial in "Alice in Wonderland" deserves the thanks of the public. All who remember the story of the proceedings in the matter of the paper with verses written upon it, which the White Rabbit picked up, will discern the likeness at once.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Miscellany

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access