necessary to be known about the posting of letters, postcards,
newspapers, book packets, and parcels to places in the United Kingdom,
or abroad, the sending of telegrams, the rates for money and postal
orders, and the regulations of the Savings Bank. To turn over its 300
pages or so is decidedly interesting. One sees what a complicated
machinery is now employed for the convenience of the public, what
wonders--to speak of letters alone--can be done for a penny, and how
thousands of miles can be reduced to insignificance by the magic of
twopence-halfpenny.

In the twelve months from the 31st of March, 1885, to the same day of
this year, the number of letters delivered in the United Kingdom was
1,403,547,900, giving an average of 38.6 to each person in the kingdom.
The total number of postcards was 171,290,000. Adding to the letters and
postcards the book-packets, newspapers, and parcels which passed through
the Post Office during the twelve months, we have a grand total of
2,091,183,822, which shows an average to each person of 57.5.




VARIETIES.


THE "WOMAN OF STENAY."

"And so you have not heard the story of the 'Woman of Stenay'?" said a
Lorraine peasant. "It was in war-time, and she offered a barrel of wine
to a detachment of Austrians, saying--