wedding rings to potato mashers and toothpicks; and objects which have a pathetic interest and which suggest the mutability of life, such as baby's slippers and shrouds.

The superintendent of the Dead-letter Office, from his experience, advises that,

1. Senders should place their names and addresses upon parcels.

2. Parcels should be properly inclosed in strong wrappers, but so wrapped that they may be examined without injury.

3. Parcels should be so securely tied as to prevent the escape of any of its contents.

SPECIAL DELIVERY SERVICE

For the more expeditious delivery of mail matter than the ordinary service will permit, the Postmaster General established, in 1885, the "Special Delivery Service." To entitle mail to the privileges of this service it must bear, in addition to the usual postage, a ten-cent special delivery stamp. Ten cents in other postage will not answer. Neither is a special delivery stamp good for general postage. The letter or parcel with special delivery stamp will receive special attention, and will be delivered by special messenger immediately upon arrival at destination. All matter (first, second, third, and fourth class) may be sent by special delivery.

Special delivery matter is delivered at free delivery offices from 7 A.M. to 11 P.M., and at all other post offices from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. It is also delivered at free delivery offices on Sundays, and at all other offices if they are open on Sundays. Special deliv

ery must be made at all offices on holidays. Special delivery matter may be registered.

PARCELS POST

The United States is behind England, Germany, France, Switzerland, and other European countries in the matter of transmitting parcels through its post office. In the countries named the service is cheaper and the weight allowed greater than in the United States. A few comparisons are sufficient to make the American wonder and reflect. Most of the continental countries deliver by post packages weighing not more than eleven pounds, at the rate of 12 cents a pound. In America the post office delivers packages weighing not over four pounds (except in the case of a single book, on which there is no limit) at the rate of 16 cents a pound. Germany delivers packages anywhere in Germany, weighing as much as 110 pounds, for thirty cents! And for from 2 to 6 cents extra the government insures the package and guarantees its safe delivery. And for an additional fee of a few cents the shipment may be made C.O.D., the post office attending to the collection and remittance, a

thing impossible under our postal system. Germany, France, and England derive an annual profit of eight, ten, and twenty millions, respectively, from their postal system, while the deficit in the United States in 1902 was $2,937,649.81, and in 1903, $4,560,044.73. A service which offers such conveniences and such advantages cannot be denied our people many years, especially as so many other nations have amply demonstrated its practicability and feasibility. America, which leads the world in so many respects, will not be satisfied with a postal service inferior in any particular to that of other countries. Wherever adopted, the parcels post has steadily expanded, and, as J. Henniker Heaton, Esq., M.P., says in the Cosmopolitan, May, 1903, "Every civilized nation will sooner or later possess a parcels post."

Without discussing the matter in detail, it might be said that the subject is worthy the serious interest and careful consideration of every citizen, for the parcels post, fully developed, will prove an immense economy to all classes of people, and an incalculable stimulus to trade.

Articles of miscellaneous mailable merchandise may be sent by parcels post to the countries and at the rates of postage named on pages 185–186, provided the packages are not sealed and conform to the limits of size and weight and to the other conditions provided in the regulations.