ROYALTY’S LETTER-BAG

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11686, 26 November 1923, Page 8

ROYALTY’S LETTER-BAG

HUGE MAILS EVERY BAY. It is stated that the morning mail of the King of Italy, on a recent occasion, consisted of 7*ooo letters and 300 parcels, followed later by over 270 telegrams. This huge delivery \nappened) to occur on a day when the monarch was expecting a mission of some importance, which was not found until almost the whole batch of correspondence had been sorted and examined by a staff of secretaries. Bulky post bags constitute one of Royalty's most severe afflictions. A commoner has only to place his name in a diminutive letter-box in order to secure at once a looked-for letter, which he is able to peruse withim-a few seconds of its delivery; it is quite impossible, in a Royal palaco, to obtain correspondence with such ease. The number of letters received is so large that a considerable staff has to be maintained in order to sort and arrange every incoming delivery. - Communications of a confidential nature intended to be read only by the personage to whom they are addressed are not, of course, opened by any other, but it would be impossible for any member of the Royal Household to read ovory letter recoived. Every Royal mail is a romance in itself; each bag contains hundreds of letters from those who seek to vent a grievance, real or fancied, at the fountainhead. Copious appeals are received from begging letter-writers, who seem to think that possession of Royal rank also indicates possession of unlimited wealth available for distribution to all and sundry, who have but to express their wants in order to receive a share! We all know that the mentally afflicted are prone to fancy that a relationship exists between themselves and Royalty; almost daily the regal mail contains pathetic, plaintive effusions written by these unfortunates, and their communications would be humorous if the circumstances in which they were penned Were less tragio. VEILED THREATS. It is said! that when King Edward was one day assisting in the disposal of his mail, his eye was attracted by a long envelope, plentifully daubed with smears of red paints. The contents consisted of twenty-six pages of script, written by one who rejoiced in the name of Ezekiah Cob man. The season was just approaching, and the occasion was doomed suitable for Ezekiah to warn His Majesty that unless he abandoned! hU muchloved sport "something would be done in the matter." Those who write direct to Royalty may feel assured that no letter requiring personal attention is ever disregarded, although it is obviously impossible for many oftr-made requests to be granted. Applications are often made by those who desire that decisions of the courts might be reversed or special privileges granted to prisoners serving sentences, and all manner of extraordinary requests are received, the granting of which would usurp constitutional law and upset the whole judicial system. It is impossible for every letter to be seen by the one to whom it is addressed, but the mail is so carefully sorted that no missive deserving special attention fails to reach its intended reader. There is only one ruler who can be said to see the whole of his mail —the Sultan of Turkey. He inspects every single letter that arrives, but only the outside of it. The daily collection is neatlv arranged and sprinkled with sweet spices. With much pomp it ie carried into the presence of the Sultan —and taken out again: he has seen the post—what more need is there to trouble about it?