what a wonderful difference there is between this infant Post-Office and
the man! _Then_, six days; _now_, less than a dozen hours, between the
capitals of England and Scotland--to say nothing of other things. But,
my lads, we must not turn up our noses at the day of small things."

"Hear, hear," cried little Grigs, who approved the sentiment.

"Lay it to heart then, Grigs," said Peter Pax, who referred to the fact
that little Grigs's nose was turned up so powerfully by nature that it
could not help turning up at things small and great alike.

Laughter and great applause were mingled with cries of "Order," which
Solomon subdued by holding up his hand.

"At the same time," continued the lecturer, "bye-posts were set a-going
to connect the main line with large towns, such as Hull, Lincoln,
Chester, etcetera. These bye-posts were farmed out to private
individuals, and the rates fixed at 2 pence a single letter to any place
under 80 miles; 4 pence up to 140 miles; 6 pence to any more distant
place in England; and 8 pence to Scotland.

"From that date forward the infant began to grow--sometimes slowly,
sometimes quickly, now and then by spurts--just like other infants, and
a horribly spoiled and mismanaged baby it was at first. Those who see
it now,--in the prime of its manhood, wielding its giant strength with
such ease, accomplishing all but miraculous work with so great speed,
regularity, and certainty, and with so little fuss,--can hardly believe
what a cross-grained little stupid thing it was in those early days, or
what tremendous difficulties it had to contend with.

"In the first place, the roads in the land were few, and most of them
inconceivably bad, besides which they were infested by highwaymen, who
often took a fancy to rummage the mail-bags and scatter their contents.
The post in those days was slow, but not sure. Then it experienced some
trouble from other infants, of the same family, who claimed a right to
share its privileges. Among these was a Post-Office established by the
Common Council of London in direct rivalry to the Parliamentary child.
This resulted in a great deal of squabbling and pamphleteering, also in
many valuable improvements--for it is well known that opposition is the
life of trade. The Council of State, however, came to the conclusion
that, in an affair so thoroughly national, the office of Postmaster and
the management of the Post-Office ought to rest in the sole power and
d