Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/636

630 Trollope and Edmund Yates, both of these distinguished littérateurs having filled important posts in that department: it is remarkable how many men of genius have commenced life in St Martin's-le-Grand. And we may add how deeply the sympathies of noble and generous ladies have been interested in the welfare of the excellent subordinates in this public department. While MrFawcett devoted his wonderful energies to the development of the machinery and the working of all branches of the service, Mrs Fawcett gave all her heart to the improvement of the homes of those who are toiling for our benefit. Lady John Manners has, with the assistance of some philanthropic and benevolent ladies, furnished rooms in different localities, where temporary rest and shelter is provided for the postmen during the brief respite from their daily toil, and where they can appreciate these generous efforts of kind and sympathising friends. And certainly – no class of public servants are worthier of kindness and sympathy – while of all our State departments there is none of which we may be justly prouder.

Time is passing rapidly. We have visited the principal offices. The hall-clock is silently approaching the hour of eight, when the bags must be all sealed and ready to leave. At five minutes to eight all is bustle and activity; at five minutes after eight the halls are silent and deserted, the bags have been collected and placed in the mail-vans, which dash off to the different railway stations. A few minutes more and the mail-trains – those messengers of joy, of sorrow, of hope, rest and unrest – will be rushing through the darkness to their several destinations.