“Dear Sir,—I am a boy fourteen years old, and I live in a small town in New Jersey on the Delawar river. My father is a horse doctor, and has practised medicine for several years. Several boys of the place have been saving old cancelled stamps to see how many they could get of different kinds, and I thought I could save them too. But as I have just commenced I have not many different kinds, when it came into my head to send to England, as I knew they spoke the same language, so I got my geography and selected your place on the map. Now I would like you to get me all the different kinds of stamps you can. I would have put in postage for you to return your letter, but your stamps are different, and I know it will be useless, but I will send you American stamps or any favour you may ask. Hoping you will regard my letter as a true one.
“I remain to be your friend as soon as possible. Please let me know to the best of your knowledge whether Wales, Scotland, and Ireland use the same kind of stamp. Hope we may meet some time before we die.”
Our cousins in America are constantly appealing to postmasters for information.
The postmaster of Campbeltown received this letter:—
“Dear Sir,—In the month of August 1774 the heroine Flora Macdonald sailed from your village in the ship Balliol for America. Can you and will you be kind enough to answer the following questions? What day in August did she sail? How many emigrants with her? How did she come from Skye to Campbeltown? What day did she land in America? Was it on Cape Fear? What was the name of the war-vessel in which she returned to Scotland? What year? Where did she land? What was the date of Kingsborough's return?
“I beg to say I am writing a history of the Highlanders in America, in which I shall attempt an extended sketch of Flora in this country.”
But even when correspondents write on Post Office business they are almost as hopeless. The postmaster of Enniskillen received this communication: “I wonder if you will be so kind as to address and mail a letter to me for a party I wish to reach and have forgotten their address and even their name.” All that the man knew about “the party” was that she lived with an aunt and was engaged to be married. It was impossible, at least in Enniskillen, to locate a lady with so conventional a record.
Questions of this kind are much easier: “I am taking the liberty of writing to ask if you will kindly refer me to some good responsible forage merchants, fruit salesmen or commission agents, greengrocers, &c., as I am desirous of ascertaining information relative to turnips (principally), potatoes and apples, and oblige—Your's, &c.”
The postmaster of Southsea saw a week's work before him if he attempted to answer this letter:—
“Dear Sir,—Please send me addresses of furnished apartments and say terms per week for one sitting-room and three bed-rooms. Also send me a cheap guide to Southsea, giving a plan of the streets, &c. What is the area and width of the marine lake? Are there good rowing boats with sliding seats and outriggers on the lake and is there a good rowing club? If so, give address of the club secretary. Can good bicycles be hired? Is there a good covered riding school for horse-riding? If so, give name and address and terms for riding lessons. Can first-class saddle horses be hired? If so, say the usual terms per hour and give the names and addresses of the best livery stables. Is the beach sand or shingle? and is there good sea-bathing? Is there a school where type-writing and shorthand is taught, and can good male or female clerks be obtained who are first-class type-writers? What salary per week do they usually get? Can electric baths be obtained? What is the usual charge? Is the winter and spring very mild, and is Southsea recommended by the doctors? Do you have much snow or wind in winter and spring? Is there a good gymnasium? Please give an address. Reply by letter. No post cards, please.