Transcriber’s Note:
Footnotes have been collected at the end of each chapter, and are linked for ease of reference. Most illustrations are full-page photographs. These were described by a simple caption as well as a brief paragraph. They have been moved slightly to avoid falling on a paragraph break. These pages, and their blank reverse, were not counted in the pagination of the book.
Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s [note] at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation.
Any corrections are indicated using an underline highlight. Placing the cursor over the correction will produce the original text in a small popup.
Any corrections are indicated as hyperlinks, which will navigate the reader to the corresponding entry in the corrections table in the note at the end of the text.
THE POST OFFICE & ITS STORY
Heaving Overboard the Mails.
Fernando Noronha is a little island in the South Atlantic Ocean, and when a vessel does not call there the letters are enclosed in a cask, to which a flag is attached; this is cast into the sea and there left floating until a boat from the island picks it up. The island is sighted by perhaps more ships and visited by fewer than any other spot on the globe.
THE POST OFFICE
AND ITS STORY
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF
THE ACTIVITIES OF A GREAT GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENT
BY
EDWARD BENNETT
With 31 Illustrations
LONDON
SEELEY, SERVICE & CO. LTD.
38 Great Russell Street
1912
THE SCIENCE OF TO-DAY SERIES
With many illustrations. Extra Crown 8vo. 5s. net.
BOTANY OF TO-DAY. A Popular Account of the Evolution of Modern Botany. By Prof. G. F. Scott Elliot, M.A., B.Sc., Author of “The Romance of Plant Life,” &c. &c.
“One of the books that turn botany from a dryasdust into a fascinating study.”—Evening Standard.
AERIAL NAVIGATION OF TO-DAY. A Popular Account of the Evolution of Aeronautics. By Charles C. Turner.
“Mr. Turner is well qualified to write with authority on the subject. The book sets forth the principles of flight in plain non-technical language. One is impressed by the complete thoroughness with which the subject is treated.”—Daily Graphic.
SCIENTIFIC IDEAS OF TO-DAY. A Popular Account, in Non-technical Language, of the Nature of Matter, Electricity, Light, Heat, Electrons, &c. &c. By Charles R. Gibson, F.R.S.E., Author of “Electricity of To-Day,” &c.
“Supplies a real need.... Mr. Gibson has a fine gift of exposition.”—Birmingham Post.
ASTRONOMY OF TO-DAY. A Popular Introduction in Non-technical Language. By Cecil G. Dolmage, LL.D., F.R.A.S. With frontispiece in colours, & 45 other illustrations.
“Dr. Dolmage has absolutely kept to his promise to introduce the reader to an acquaintance with the astronomy of to-day in non-technical language.”—Saturday Review.
ELECTRICITY OF TO-DAY. Its Work and Mysteries Explained. By Charles R. Gibson, F.R.S.E.
“Mr. Gibson has given us one of the best examples of popular scientific exposition that we remember seeing. His book may be strongly commended to all who wish to realise what electricity means and does in our daily life.”—The Tribune.
ENGINEERING OF TO-DAY. A Popular Account of the Present State of the Science, with many interesting Examples, described in Non-technical Language. By Thomas W. Corbin. With 73 illustrations & diagrams.
“Most attractive and instructive.”—Record.
“The descriptions which are given of various types of engineering structures and work are excellent.”—Yorkshire Observer.
“Altogether a most delightful book.”—Literary World.
MEDICAL SCIENCE OF TO-DAY. A Popular Account of the more recent Developments in Medicine & Surgery. By Willmott Evans, M.D., B.S., B.Sc. (Lond.), F.R.C.S. (Eng.), Surgeon to the Royal Free Hospital.
MECHANICAL INVENTIONS OF TO-DAY. An Interesting Description of Modern Mechanical Inventions told in Non-technical Language. By Thomas W. Corbin, Author of “Engineering of To-Day.” With 95 illustrations & diagrams.
SEELEY, SERVICE & CO. LIMITED