156 ON THE TRACK OF THE MAIL-COACH 



they were sent to outlying farms by common carriers 

 and others who passed on certain days of the 

 w^eek. 



Going back a hundred years, things were of course 

 more primitive still. A local historian says : ' At 

 this period an old woman brought the letters from 

 Brecon to Merthyr Tydvil, and they were taken to the 

 Crown Inn and placed, a dozen or less in number, on 

 a little round table ; and if anyone expected a letter, 

 he or she would drop in and look them over.' 



As to opening letters, the postmaster of a large 

 Welsh town tells me that, man}^ years ago of course, 

 he witnessed the following scene at a sub-office. 



A villager having entered, Mr. Jones, the sub- 

 postmaster, thus addressed him : 



Mr. Jones. ^ Shou' ! I wass make a mistake with 

 your money order histerday.' 



Villager. ' Inteed ! How wass it, Mr. Shones ?' 



Mr. Jones. 'I put it all right again, shou'. I took 

 the letter out of the pox, and made a fresh order and 

 put it in, and sent the letter off all right.' 



Villager. ' Thank you fery kindly, Mr. Shones ; 

 yes, yes, inteed, for sure, it was fery goot of you — for 

 sure !' [Exit Villager.] 



The ex-Mayor of a Welsh town must be responsible 

 for the following story : 



In Glamorganshire an old postboy, crossing a lone- 

 some spot with mails, w^as met by a thief, who 

 presented two pistols at him and demanded the mails 

 and bullion. The postboy cried out, ' Ton't shoot me. 



