Historic Vids氏とVisionaryVoid氏による、1913年、米の小包郵便で子供が発送可能になった件について

Historic Vids @historyinmemes

In 1913, the US Post Office's Parcel Post began offering its services to deliver mail too heavy for normal letter post. Americans were now able to send packages that weighed up to eleven pounds. Within the first few weeks, a handful of parents had tried to send their children via post. The Times reported a small boy who was shipped by his grandmother from Stratford, Oklahoma, to an aunt living in Wellington, Kansas. The Times wrote, "Mrs. E. H. Staley of this city received her two-year-old nephew by parcel post today from his grandmother in Stratford, Okla., where he had been left for a visit three weeks ago. The boy wore a tag about his neck showing it had cost 18 cents to send him through the mails. He was transported 25 miles by rural route before reaching the railroad. He rode with the mail clerks, shared his lunch with them, and arrived here in good condition." "Vernon O. Lytle, mail carrier on rural route No. 5, is the first man to accept and deliver under parcel post conditions a live baby. The baby, a boy weighing 10-3/4 pounds, just within the 11-pound weight limit, is the child of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Beagle of Glen Este. The boy was well wrapped and ready for "mailing" when the carrier received him today. Mr. Lytle delivered the boy safely at the address on the card attached, that of the boy's grandmother, Mrs. Louis Beagle, who lives about a mile distant. The postage was fifteen cents, and the parcel was insured for $50."

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VisionaryVoid @VisionaryVoid

One lesser known fact about the practice of mailing children by parcel post is that it was not only done by parents or relatives, but also by some orphanages and adoption agencies. In some cases, these institutions used the parcel post service as a way of transporting orphans or abandoned children to their new homes or foster families. For example, in 1915, an orphanage in Kentucky mailed a baby girl named Catherine to a couple in Ohio who had adopted her. The baby was wrapped in blankets and had a note pinned to her dress that read: “Please Mr. Postman, take good care of me as I am an orphan and have no one to love me.” The postage cost was $1.15 and the baby arrived safely after a 725-mile journey. However, not all children who were mailed by orphanages or adoption agencies had such happy endings. Some of them were exploited, abused, or neglected by their new guardians, who had little or no background checks or supervision. Some of them were even sold or traded by their adoptive parents, who saw them as commodities rather than human beings. Some of them never knew their true identities or origins, and lived in fear and uncertainty.

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VisionaryVoid @VisionaryVoid

The practice of mailing children by parcel post was a reflection of the social and economic conditions of the early 20th century, when many families struggled with poverty, disease, and war. It also exposed the flaws and loopholes of the postal system, which lacked clear regulations and safeguards for human cargo. It also revealed the need for better policies and practices for child welfare and protection, which would eventually lead to the establishment of more humane and ethical adoption laws and standards.

⚡️Decrypting Khaos™ (🐝👾🐝) $BHNY @DecryptingKhaos

@historyinmemes I just shipped my kid... 😳😳😳

⚡️Decrypting Khaos™ (🐝👾🐝) $BHNY @DecryptingKhaos

@historyinmemes Don't confuse with Ship your pants... 😅😅😅 youtu.be/2xwUuSM06xQ?si…

Dolly's Bakery @dollysbakery_

@historyinmemes This was so fascinating but then I read the last line. The baby was insured for $50? His life is worth a lot more than $50 lol. What interesting times

Habidex Richie ✨ @HabidexRichie

@historyinmemes pic.twitter.com/vEdhTBIr3z

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Chris Suazo @HacksCoffee

@historyinmemes The USPS was founded on July 26, 1775, making it one of the world's oldest postal systems. pic.twitter.com/dWzHk7FsAc

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Habidex Richie ✨ @HabidexRichie

@historyinmemes Olden days sounds like a fun 😂 That’s interesting 👍

Habidex Richie ✨ @HabidexRichie

@historyinmemes pic.twitter.com/SOGuEh3RJM

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Mateusz Szewczyk - e/deez @slimechad

@historyinmemes certified "we used to be a country" moment

dharmic aeroplate v2 @daeroplate_v2

@VisionaryVoid @historyinmemes Nevertheless it shows a very impressive trust in the system of unknown people in middle and general child safety that is unthinkable in any society now

Florian Reka @RekaFlorian

@daeroplate_v2 @VisionaryVoid @historyinmemes No. That was not a trust issue. Those people simply did not care whether the baby died or survived.

M4RK5T3R CH13F @M4RK5T3R_CH13F

@HabidexRichie @historyinmemes She looks familiar pic.twitter.com/QaJXkrYkgv

Habidex Richie ✨ @HabidexRichie

@M4RK5T3R_CH13F @historyinmemes Hmmm 😂😭

Lado Bitnar @LadoBitnar

@historyinmemes That would have been quite the experience for the baby I would imagine.

Echoes of Wisdom @Echoes_Wisdom_

The origin of the modern postal system can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where various methods of delivering messages and parcels were employed. However, the modern concept of a national postal service with standardized rates and delivery methods began to take shape in Europe during the early modern period.

Time Capsule Tales @timecaptales

In the 1860s, a job offer boasted a $25 wage per week. Adjusting for inflation, that equates to around $850 weekly, $3,400 monthly, or $40,800 annually, assuming no days off. The Pony Express significantly reduced message travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to just 10 days. Despite its vital service, the Pony Express faced financial ruin, going bankrupt within 18 months (April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861) due to the completion of the transcontinental telegraph on October 24, 1861. In 1841, news of President William Henry Harrison's death took 110 days to reach Los Angeles. However, the advent of the transcontinental telegraph established almost instant communication between the east and west coasts.

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Jelani @IamTheEmbalmer

@historyinmemes You’ve got mail! pic.twitter.com/1Tv0Cg4DjO

JEME @ShahenulJeme

Some interesting facts about the American post office: 1. Oldest Postal System: The United States Postal Service (USPS) traces its roots back to 1775, making it one of the oldest postal systems in the world. 2. Benjamin Franklin: Founding Father Benjamin Franklin served as the first Postmaster General of the United States, appointed in 1775. 3. ZIP Codes: The USPS introduced ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) codes in 1963 to improve mail delivery efficiency. ZIP codes help sort and deliver mail more accurately. 4. Largest Civilian Fleet: The USPS operates one of the largest civilian vehicle fleets in the world, with thousands of mail trucks and vehicles. 5. Stamp Collecting: Stamp collecting, also known as philately, is a popular hobby, and the USPS has issued a wide variety of commemorative and special stamps over the years. 6. Pony Express: The famous Pony Express mail service, which operated from 1860 to 1861, was a system of horseback riders who carried mail across the western United States. 7. Postal Banking: From 1911 to 1967, the USPS offered postal banking services, allowing people to open savings accounts and conduct basic financial transactions at post offices. 8. Postal Inspectors: The USPS has its own law enforcement agency, the United States Postal Inspection Service, responsible for investigating mail-related crimes. 9. Santa Claus Post Office: Every year, the USPS operates a special post office in Santa Claus, Indiana, where volunteers help answer letters addressed to Santa Claus from children all over the world. 10. Forever Stamps: In 2007, the USPS introduced "Forever" stamps, which remain valid for mailing a standard letter regardless of future price increases. These facts showcase the rich history and unique aspects of the American postal service.

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Rudy Anaya @RudeDogeX

@ShahenulJeme @historyinmemes Another interesting fact I worked as rural route carrier for 8 years of my life 🍺