The post office and its story an interesting account of the activities of a great government department

A mother on claiming the money deposited by her dead son was asked if the father were alive. “Father living but insignificant,” was her illuminating reply. A claimant to the money of a deceased depositor explained his omission to furnish a correct list of the next of kin in this way: “Her relations are robbing me through thick and thin, and I think it is my turn to start.” The Department declined to admit the cogency of the argument. A person on applying for an insurance through the Post Office Savings Bank was asked among other questions to state the cause of his father's death. His answer was: “I don't know; I can't remember; but it was nothing serious.” The son of a depositor claimed his father's money, but inquiries made by the Department revealed the fact that he was born before marriage, and consequently could not claim as next of kin. The claimant was delicately informed of his disqualification. He then tried to establish a claim as creditor of his father's estate, and sent in a bill containing the following item: “Shock to system on learning of my illegitimacy, £2, 5s.” This is what the late President Kruger would have called “moral and intellectual damage.” Here is a bill for an Irish wake charged against the estate of a deceased depositor:— Bought of —— Grocer, &c. 6 gallons of whisky £5 8 0 12 bottles cordial 0 3 0 ½ lb. tobacco 0 2 0 ½ lb. tea 0 1 6 Drinks 0 0 8 —— —— —— £5 15 2 ==== ==== ====