October 24, 1922
The busy life of postal workers now and then is made brighter by unusual incidents and strange orders. Here are some of the side-lights, picked up at random in the postoffice yesterday afternoon:
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REGULAR “MENAGERIE” MAY BE SENT THROUGH MAIL
Honey bees in quantities may be sent through the mail, if they can be delivered to destination within five days, under a new postal ruling received by Postmaster J.J. Ormsbee. Heretofore only queen bees could be shipped in this manner.
Bees are packed in small wooden boxes, with double wire netting over one side and a stick of candy fastened in one end for food.
Such parcels frequently pass through El Paso enroute to Mexico.
Other live animals which may be shipped through mail under the new ruling are goldfish, when packed in moss; baby terrapin, blood worms, chameleons and shellfish.
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MRS. ROOSEVELT’S LETTERS DELIVERED WITHOUT COST
All mail sent by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt under her autograph signature, “Edith K. Roosevelt,” is conveyed free of postage in the United Sates and possessions, says an official notice form Washington. The postmaster general calls attention that some of Mrs. Roosevelt’s letters recently have been held for postage.
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SPANISH BUNCO LETTERS PRINTED IN JOB LOTS
Postmaster J.J. Ormsbee has discovered that Spanish confidence men who mail out the ancient prison letters through which unsuspecting Americans now and then are induced to part with money have improve their system. They now are mailing lithographed letters, which are so cleverly printed that they resemble hand-written missives even under close scrutiny. He postmaster discovered that the letters are being printed in job lots when a second letter was sent to him by a recipient with a week.
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BOTTLE OF BEER IS SENT WITH TOMATOES
A case of tomatoes. A bottle of beer. A damaged crate. And the bottle rolled out in the postoffice. Postoffice inspectors are on the rail of the shipper, they said.
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