Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/309



A popular article was written in 1907 by H. H. in the "Nineteenth Century" in order to expose the "red-tape" methods of the Post Office. Its publication met with so much appreciation and amusement that it is here reprinted.

E all form mental pictures of unseen potent individualities who influence our lives and fortunes. In these unvarnished pages I propose to give the popular notion of the Postmaster-General at work. It would be unfair to accuse me of malicious caricature and exaggeration. I am not, be it distinctly understood, giving my personal impressions of the distinguished holder of the great office of Magister Nuntiorum, I do not paint him as he appears to his numerous friends, an able, conscientious, amiable man; but such as he must loom before the general public who only know him through his replies to their complaints, and his official attitude to the reforms they have at heart. He may do well to ponder the picture, unflattering as it seems.

The Postmaster-General of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland has taken his seat in his office at St Martin's-le-Grand and the Secretary enters, Rh