Ten Years Among the Mail Bags: Or, Notes from the Diary of a Special Agent of the Post-Office DepartmentHolbrook, James
History
Ten Years Among the Mail Bags: Or, Notes from the Diary of a Special Agent of the Post-Office Department
Holbrook, James
Postal service -- United States
And I felt bound to give others a sight of them, too, if for no other
reason, to impart to the "injured" members of that community a slight
knowledge of some of the difficulties which the Post Master General
and his Assistant often have to encounter in these and similar cases.
It was all news to those present excepting to the two "magnanimous"
gentlemen interested. They had doubtless supposed that the evidence of
their double-dealing was very quietly sleeping in one of the snug and
obscure pigeon-holes of the Appointment Office.
On coming into the room again, after a quarter of an hour's absence
at the supper table, I missed these two generous volunteers, and
understood they left very soon after I withdrew. Their inconsistent
course was afterwards explained to me in this wise: After they had
signed for the change, and the papers had gone to Washington, it came
out that the three Select-men of the town had united in a letter to
the Department, on the same side of the question, all three of them
happening to live nearer the new sites than the old one; and the
brothers having become involved in a somewhat bitter quarrel with one
of those officials, had determined to get on the opposite side, in the
post-office struggle, and defeat their wishes if possible.
Among the speakers was the Principal of the Academy before alluded to;
a very intelligent gentleman, and one of dignified appearance. His
observations related mainly to the inconveniences resulting to the
members of that institution from the want of a post-office. After he
had concluded his remarks, I inquired,
"What is the present number of your pupils?"
Upon this, some one suggested obtaining a printed catalogue, and the
"Committee on Statistics" forthwith disappeared in search of the
required pamphlet. The zeal and efficiency of this gentleman may have
had no connection with his desire to fill the office of post master,
should the office be re-established. The reader will judge of this
when he learns who was finally selected for that position.
After a few moments' absence, he returned with a copy of the
catalogue.
Observing that it was for a previous term, I asked whether there were
as many pupils now as at that time.
"The school is not quite as large at present," said the Principal;
"but we expect even a larger number of pupils at the beginning of the
next term."
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