HUMAN PARCELS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3151, 31 March 1909, Page 4

HUMAN PARCELS.

If a total stranger to London wants to go to a distant locality and has no idea where it is, the best way is to walk into the General Post Office and demand to be despatched. It will seem at first a curious demand, but it will have no morbid effect upon the young lady behind the wire-screen at the counter. All she says is: "Threepence a mile, please," and "What address?" You pay in advance. She knows the distances. What you have paid, a button is pressed, and a messenger boy appears. He takes the voucher, and off you go in his care. If you wuh to ride you may do so, paying your own fare only. If you walk, the messenger boy conducts you most carefully, makes a way for you through the thronging sidewalks, and at each crossing waits for the traffic to be held up—takes no risks whatever. It may occur to the "parcel," especially if it be one of the feminine variety—that some of the shop windows are worth, inspection. She may loiter and look at them if she pleases, but it is a variation from the contract, and must be paid for. The parcel arrives finally at the appointed place, the messenger takes a receipt for him or her, and the transaction i complete. The utility of,this human parcel service is endless. Messenger boys convey country visitors from railway stations to the suburbs. They take parties of children to pantomime matinees, and call for them when the performance is over Deaf, blind and lame people are conducted all over London m perfect safety.