Many persons are under the impression that a letter once mailed
is no longer the property of the sender, but belongs to the
person to whom it is addrest. This is an error. Under the postal
regulations of the United States and the rulings of the highest
courts in the land, a letter does not belong to the addressee
until it is delivered to him.
The writer has a right to reclaim and regain possession of it
provided he can prove to the satisfaction of the postmaster at
the office from which it was sent that he was the writer of it.
Even after the letter has arrived in the office which is its
destination and before it has been delivered to the addrest it
may be recalled by the writer by telegraph through the mailing
office.
It would be a great boon to all of us who speak in haste and repent at
leisure if we could as easily recall our spoken messages.
(2625)