LA POSTE ET LE TIMBRE-POSTE

Thème.

When the letter-carrier brings us our mail m the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon, we very seldom think of the many difhculties that had to be overcome before attaining the almost perfect condition which the postal service has ncw reached.

Herodotus tells us that Cyrus had established in Persia one hundred stations for the transmission of his orders, and we know that Augustus had the same service ail through the Roman empire.

Exercices de Traduction. 207

Many progressive monarchs had also relay stations for their messengers ; but it was Henry III. who, in 1576, allowed the gênerai public t-o use that convenience. In the United States, the first postal service was established between New York and Philadelphia, but ail this was of very little practical use until Eowland Hill had invented the postage-stamp. Before that the cost of mailing a letter was so great that but few persons made use of the postal service.

In 1845 the business men of London presented E. Hill with a check for thirteen thousand pounds. From that time on, the postal service has constantly improved, and to such an extent that we are now able to mail a letter to almost any civilized country for fiye cents, and that we also can send money safely across the océan by buying international moneyorders.

It must be said that ail governments try their best to facilitate international communications ; they offer premiums to the steamship and railroad companies which deliver mail most promptly.

This ease of communication has greatly benefited trade, and has contributed to the ever-increasing wealth of the world.

LA PANTHÈEE.

Doctor Leblanc was very fond of animais. During his stay in Sénégal he always had many pets, but among them Félou, a panther, was by ail odds the most clever.

When Doctor Leblanc bought him, Félou was but three or four months old ; he was not only gentle, but very timid ; a noise drove him nearly crazy, and he ne ver would leave his master for a moment. He was called to his- meals by the clinking of a knife on a plate, and he was very particular

abont the way in which his méat was presented to him. He wonld not ton cli a large pièce of méat ; he must hâve it nicely eut in small pièces.

When his master went to Gorée, Félon was shipped on a schooner, bnt as the boat was delayed, Félon broke his cage, quickly landed, entered a honse throngh a window, and stole a pièce of roasted méat that was on the table. Eight days later the poor panther arrived at Gorée. It was a great joy for both master and pet. As one of the legs of the animal was broken, Doctor Leblanc set it, and Félou nnderwent the opération withont trying to bite. Within a week the wonnd was thoroughly healed.

When Doctor Leblanc retnrned to France, leaving his pet in Africa, Félon's temper changed for the worse, it became necessary to cage him, and he died two months later.