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

An old lady informed the Department that she had lost her book, which she said stood in her maiden name. When asked for her marriage certificate, she said she was not married, and explained, “I used to take very strong tea, which has made my memory bad.” Perhaps it was a case of love's old dream. Then the explanations which have to be furnished for differences of handwriting are often very human and amusing. For instance: “I am instructed by my Father to write and state the difference between his handwritings may have been the cause of his rheumatics.” Those who saw the handwriting were not surprised. Another writes: “The difference in the riten is that I have been promoted.” He was clearly not examined in orthography before his advancement. Another application for an explanation of difference in handwriting was met in a rather cryptic fashion. A medical certificate was forwarded: “This to certify that J. S., residing at——, is suffering from an inflamed foot.” I have given enough instances to show how closely the Savings Bank comes into touch with the people. Indeed it is the most human, in its relations, of all the departments of the General Post Office. It looks more closely into the inner life of the man and woman: it possesses also the people's secrets, which are safe in its keeping. Efforts have often been made to compare the saving habits of the British people with those of other countries, but little reliable guidance can be obtained from the comparative statistics of the various Postal Savings Banks. In some countries, there are more facilities for saving money in private institutions and public concerns; in others there are considerably less than in England. Still it is to be feared that the younger generation, especially in our large towns, do not save to any great extent. The temptations to spend are at every corner, and perhaps the best recommendation of the Post Office Savings Bank, in the eyes of the masses, is that withdrawals are easy. Many people would, however, like to see the old idea of a Savings Bank more strongly emphasised, not only by the people, but by the management. But this is a question of policy with which we have no concern.