So did you or your friends ever drive along a rural road and get into some mischief with mailboxes? I have heard of escapades that involve baseball bats out of car windows. Feel free to leave a comment on this post should you feel the need to share a confession. Smile.
I do recall messing with the flags on mailboxes. Nothing serious. Just adjusting the flag to a downward position (which signifies empty mail box) when it had previously been standing tall and upright announcing to the owner “mail has arrived!” But most of all, I remember loving when the flag was up and running to the mailbox to see what was inside.
Many years ago, what one found in a mailbox might have looked very different indeed. In 1832, for example, when Susanna Moodie arrived in Canada she would write her letters onto a single sheet of paper. She would use both sides of the paper and then start again, this time cross-writing over earlier paragraphs in the opposite direction. Ms. Moodie did this to save money as the official mail service based its charges on the number of sheets of paper used. Can you imagine trying to decipher what her letter said?
And envelopes, which I love to rip open and get right to the good stuff inside, were not invented until 1844. People used wax to seal their sheets of paper together. Now, I would imagine that Susanna Moodie would have been thrilled when, in that same year, letters began to be rated on weight rather than number of sheets. I bet the receivers of her letters were thankful too – so much easier to read!
And of course as we chronicle how letters travelled via steamship, stagecoach, railway, airmail to current day there is always a mailbox on the other end. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or sprawling acreage, chances are you have one.
Here are some mailbox etiquette tips for you to consider:
* never assume flag down means no mail; check and re-check, stalk the postal carrier if you have to
* try your key at least twice before giving up—proceed with caution in winter on this point—you don’t want to snap the key
* do your best to avoid going to the mailbox as the same time as your neighbor – wear dark glasses, scarf and hat if you want to pretend they don’t know you
* always give the mail you get that doesn’t belong to you, to the rightful owner; after you have had fun speculating why your neighbor subscribes to THAT magazine
* plan to go to the mail at the same time as your neighbor especially if you like your neighbor (some natural romantic possibilities here I think)
* leave the stickers to your bumper or kid’s forehead
* politeness rules when you want to inform carrier of no ‘junk mail’
* it goes with out saying that baseball bats are not invited to the mailbox party
P.S All these interesting historical mail tidbits, as shared above, have their source in Charlotte Gray’s book titled, “Canada, A Portrait in Letters.” I am working my way through this fascinating look into Canada’s history through letters.
Growing up in a rural area the adventures of youth and mailboxes were well known but the opportunity never presented itself to me; it was the pastime of country kids, not town kids. However, one day I did experience it from the other side of the “driveway” per say. I was working at Canadian Tire and a senior man came in to buy, yes a mailbox. Seems his was the target of this country entertainment. Inwas struck by his sadness as he said “why do you suppose they would do this?” He was so sincere and so sad. It impacted so much that I still remember the regret I felt – and I wasn’t even guilty – by being one of the local youth who are tempted to find enjoyment at the expense of others. On a cheerier note, I love that you referred to letters written both horizontally and vertically. I remember finding postcards like this in my paternal grandparents home while “playing” (snooping) as a child.
Ahh, the discoveries we make while ‘playing!’ I had never heard of this way of writing a letter before. I thought it was cool. But it must be hard to read? I think I will give it a try. That is quite the story about that elderly gentleman. And, of course, it had to be an elderly gentleman. (hey, I worked at C.T.C too!)