MAIL DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 145, 20 June 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

MAIL DAY.

Bγ Ithuriel;

What a hubbub the departure of the out. going 'Frisco mail creates in quieb little Auckland. A stranger chancing to visit us at such a time would have ample excuse for his anxious query whether an earthquake or universal strike had jusb occurred. Tako a stand in the General Post Office when the eager current of humanity is constantly ebbing and flowing, and see what is to be seen. Here they come, one after another, to stamp and send forth on their mission the messages of weal or woe to friends across the sea. The swing door never for a moment relaxes ita labours. From nine to twelvo a.m. that door is a thing of perpetual motion, " never standing, never still." Yet how patient and long-suflering it is. How noiselessly and steadily, like some good spirit, it flies back and forth on its appointed task. Never a creak or groan of impatience, whon a particularly vicious pu3h sends it swinging through on to the'nose of aomo 1 individual behind, causing him to rub violently the afflicted member, ar.d glower at tho poor door, as though ib were tho door's fault! !! It is all meekness and long-suffering. Truly wo might learn more than one lesson from a post office door. But though everybody is more or less eager and busy, only a few ill-favoured members of the community lose their tempers at a little provocation when despatching their letters. It is universally regarded as a time when breaches of decorum are excusable amid the prevailing excitement, and one must bear with calmness the weight of sixteen stone of solid humanity resting complacently upon his pet corn. But let us stand aside for a moment and survey the scene. Here cbmes a pretty girl tripping gaily in, and casting loving looks at tho bulky envelope she carries. She gets her stamp—hasn't to wait long for ib affixes ib very carefully to the precious package, retires to tho letter-box, and after a laet glance, drops ib in. Well, why shouldn't she? Isn't it quite natural and righb to expend a littlo ordinary care on a letter for father, or brother Jack, or even Jack's friend ? Of courso it is. Then jusb watch the movements of that worthy couple of honest rustics, bearing in a market basket the latest news of the crops to son John in " f urrin parts." Either "son John" has not long quitted tho parontal roof, or else his responsos to the interesting details conveyed to him from time to time are not of such an encouraging naturo to the at-all-times arduous home correspondents as they should be, for the despatching of the letter proves quite an operation. In the first place, they go to the wrong counter and have to stand half an hour before their mistake can be corroctod by the hardworked clerk. When the stamp is finally obtained, tho good wife proceeds to stick it on upside down, and upon discovering her mistake carefully peols the little label off again, lest the postal authorities, taking offenco at her disrespectful treatment of Her Majesty's portrait, should refuse to deliver the parcel of interesting news. Meanwhile, the goodman first puzzles, then growls over his change of a half-penny newspaper postage, instead of good, solid copper, which, by-the-way, is perhaps the clue to Master John's tardiness in his home communications. However, if the letter is not deposited in tho wrong box, which is questionable, he will receive ib in due course. But hush ! speak softly, for a black - edgod missive is being stamped by a palefaced woman in widow's weeds with three little children clinging to her skirts and looking wonderingly on. Alas, how little did ehe dream when, as a gay young bride, sheleft Home and friends to share willingly with " him " toil and privation in a new land, that this would be the end alike of their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows. And so we might read on a neverending history, each new face furnishing a new chapter as their owners crowd in upon cur vision, but it ia close upon one o'clock already when the mail closes, and we positively musb run down and see the steamer off. On arriving wo find that a considerable number are bent upon the same object. In fact, the exodus of " dearest friends " by the 'Frisco mail tjvery month ie so mysteriously great that if all the virtues and graces which call for such attention up to the last affectionate parting on the wharf, are a reality, San Francisco ought to be immensely benefited by tho mere passing through ib of the sainted individuals. To say the wharf is crowded scarcely describes the actual state of affairs. The wharf is packed, the upper and lower decks are packed, the saloons and each separate state-room are packed full to over-flowing, with passengers and passengere' friends, and passengers' friends' friends. The stewards preparing the long tables for the mid-day meal (and taking extra care, in consideration of the happy few likely to requiro their attention in this department at night) dodge hither and thither, enduring with Spartan stoicism the bumps and bruises received at every turn. Thoy have a remedy, though. A loud whistle rapidly clears deck and saloons of the surplus who, possessed with that nameless terror of being carried off which somehow clings to many long after the childish belief in bogies and their black kidnapping bags has been laughed to scorn, are heedless of the fact that a huge mountain of cargo at the other end, has still to be shipped. Consequently, the last affecting words have to be addressed in a ehrill key, which, if it is a stormy day, or there is any risk of the excited individual in the' ecstasy of a lasb gaze, losing his balance and tipping into the sea, is apt to take away the sentiment from the proceedings. In the meantime, the sensible ones calmly ignore the screeching of the whistle and frantic gesticulasions of the stewards, and have their finales out before shey stir. Lasb moments, however, cannot be averted. The gangway is pulled up, the funnel utters once more its heard-, not to speak of head-rending farewell, and slowly, slowly the great ocean steamer begins to widen the distance between itself and the group on the wharf. How long the hearts that ib is bearing away will in future remain true to the hearts it leaves behind, God only knows. Handkerchiefs begin to flutter in the breeze. The young man off in search of fame and fortune, feels a choking Sensation tbab he need nob be ashamed of, as he waves an encouraging farewell to her who is to be the reward of his labour ; parents look their last at the children they are leaving, and secretly commit them to the better care of their Heavonly Father; children feel thab to travel and see the world is not, after all, the pinnacle of earthly happiness, and long for the moment to be back in tho old home-nest. A few minutes more, and even recognition is pasc. With her precious freight of mails and passengers, the vessel steams down the harbour, disappears round the North Head, and the excitement of Mail Day is over.