194 ON THE TRACK OF THE MAIL-COACH 



the staff had been recruited with unsuitable people, 

 under the bad old patronage system. 



In time things righted themselves, and the Liverpool 

 office became that model of efficiency which it is to 

 this day. 



Mr. Eich, the present incumbent, has had, in various 

 cities, from 1842 to 1895, a far wider range than any 

 of his predecessors. Six years a clerk and super- 

 intendent in the Bristol post-office, six years chief-clerk 

 at Bath, ten years controller at Manchester, ten years 

 chief-clerk at Liverpool, twenty years its postmaster, 

 surveyor of South-west Lancashire towns, of Birken- 

 head and the Isle of Man, he has won his responsible 

 position by sheer hard work, cool judgment, and tried 

 capacity. His opinion has been sought on most 

 practical questions of importance. 



I will mention a characteristic incident. The advent 

 of Christmas cards was very sudden in Liverpool, and 

 altogether unexpected. One Christmas Eve — a Sun- 

 day — Mr. Eich, who was then controller, paid a visit 

 to the post-office, and, to his surprise, found the staff 

 overwhelmed by an avalanche of cards. It was not 

 possible then to obtain more force. But the chief 

 was equal to the occasion. He took off his coat, 

 tucked up his shirt- ^leeves, and set to work, an 

 example which electrified the men, who threw such 

 extraordinary zeal and enthusiasm into their duties 

 that the despatch of the night mail was saved and 

 every missive sent forward. 



Mr. Eich is about to retire. Whenever he looks back 



