Combinations or arrangements between special delivery messengers with a view to securing a division of the total permissible compensation of the month are forbidden; and postmasters should, by distribution of work and assignment of hours of duty, equalize as far as practicable the compensation of messengers. A messenger should not always be assigned to duty during the same periods of each day; but changes will be made from time to time, whereby a messenger employed during the busy hours of one day may be assigned to the duller hours of another day. Orderly conduct of special delivery messengers while in the office and on their trips is strictly enforced; and no messenger will be retained who is not diligent and well-behaved. A special place is provided in the post office for the accommodation of the messengers, and it is so arranged as to prevent their access to other parts of the office, and to mail matter other than that in which they are immediately concerned. Special delivery messengers need not be uniformed, except in such special cases as may be ordered, but they should all be decently and comfortably clad. Substitute letter-carriers, when employed as messengers for special delivery, may wear their carrier uniforms. Messengers are paid at the rate of not exceeding eight cents for each piece delivered, or attempted to be delivered. Each messenger is furnished with a delivery book, in which must be entered the number and address of each piece of matter received for delivery, the date and hour of its receipt by the messenger, and the amount of postage due thereon. The receipt of the person to whom any special delivery matter is delivered must be taken in the blank space provided for this purpose in the delivery book. Delivery books will be kept in the post office when not in use, and messengers must promptly return them to the office after every tour. Whenever for any cause a book is no longer used, it will be filed in the post office. CHAPTER XVIII. THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL OF THE POSTAL SERVICE. A former learned wit of the Post Office Department, cogitating over, upon, under, and between, the multifarious and abstruse problems submitted for adjudication, evolved the following gems of keen, mental penetration. That: Feather beds are not mailable. A stamp of the foot is not sufficient to carry a letter. A pair of onions will go for two cents. Persons are compelled to lick their own postage stamps; the postmaster cannot be compelled to do this. Nitro-glycerine must be forwarded at the risk of the sender. If it should blow up in the postmaster’s hands he cannot be held responsible. When candy is sent through the mails it is earnestly requested that both ends of the package be left open, so that the employees of the post office may test its quality. John Smith gets his mail from 674,279 post offices, hence a letter directed to John Smith, United States, will reach him.