Identifier: lifelettersofsi00port (find matches)
Title: The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt.
Year: 1916 (1910s)
Authors: Porter, Rose Henniker
Subjects: Heaton, John Henniker, Sir, bart., 1848-1914 Postal service
Publisher: London, John Lane New York, John Lane Company
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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bequeath—on their retirement a schemeof general improvement for the benefit of their fellows. Although wanting the profound sagacity anddazzling imagination of the great Utopians of pastyears, I would yet crave permission to enumeratecertain reforms in the great postal department overwhich you preside, which might render it still moreefficient. None knows better than a close studentof all the post offices of the countries of the world, howsplendid is our record of achievement in the BritishPost Office. Much courage is required to point outany remaining defects or failings. But we all knowour truest friend is he who tells us of our faults. Fromthis point of view I am the best friend the Post Officeever had. This is not the first time I have ventured on asumming-up of postal grievances. Each of yourpredecessors during the past quarter of a century hasreceived such a list at my hands. Many of thesedemands—nearly one hundred—have been conceded, 1 The Right Honble. Herbert Samuel,232
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THE MARTIN LUTHER OF THE POST OFFICE By pe7-)uission of thepropj-ictors of TJic Graphic AN IDEAL POST OFFICE 233 including such substantial boons as imperial pennypostage, and penny postage to the whole of theEnglish-speaking countries of the world. There remain the 62 given herewith—one, by anaccidental correspondence, for every year of my life.Many of these you may meet at a little greater ex-penditure than that of the ink used for your signature.All represent real and urgent public needs. Some ofthem I drew up as a young and hopeful reformer. Theystill utter the wishes of the public—an appealing noteof truth, like the old gramophone records into whichBrowning breathed poetry and Patti music. Theystand as a Pygmalions gallery of statues waiting forlife to be breathed into them. Need I say by whom ? Of one thing all who know you will be assured—that not one reform will be refused or delayed withoutyour personal and unbiased investigation of thequestion involved, or because the

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