Mr. Johnson, of the Treasury Department, lives in Uniontown, Va., four mlles from Washington, and in sight of the Treasury Building. One day it was uncertain if he would go home, as there was a chance of his being called to Baltimore, and that his wife might know it, wrote her a letter, and sent it to the post. In just seven months, after journeying no less than eighteen thousand miles, the long-forgotten letter reached Mrs. Johnson, the envelope all written over with directions and instructions by seven postmasters. It appears that from Washington it had been sent to Uniontown, Penn., from whence, after a rest, it had been forwarded to Uniontown, Minn. As no one in that place wanted it, the obliging postmaster marked it, “Try Louisiana,” and away down the Mississippi it went, and for a time lay unclaimed. Then it was started again to Uniontown, Cal., and did not return to Uniontown, N.Y., for two months. Then away to Indiana; eastward again, after two weeks, to Maryland, and finally to its destination! Will people who name places and post-offices be a little original, and not repeat the same names over and over!
Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, New York, NY, May 7, 1870
