Once again we make a leap.  The Bosnian mail carrier’s equipment (Fig. 24) is, or rather was, quite singular, for our picture was taken before the occupation.

This mounted mail carrier with his weapons gives one the impression of a robber.

The task of conducting the mail through the Alps of Switzerland (Fig. 25) must be uncomfortable in winter, when the sledges glide by fearful precipices and over snow-covered passes.

Since the tariff union mail developed from the Prussian mail, and the world’s mail from the tariff union, it seems suitable to close our series of pictures by representing the old Prussian postal service (Fig. 26) carried on by soldier postmen in the eighteenth century during the reign of Frederick the Great.

[Illustration:  FIG. 20.—­CHINESE POSTMAN.]

[Illustration:  FIG. 21.—­DELIVERING LETTERS IN LANDES DEPARTMENT, FRANCE.]

[Illustration:  FIG. 22.—­RUSSIAN EXTRA POST.]

The complaint is made that poetry is wanting in our era, and it has certainly disappeared from the postal service.  One remembers that the postilion was for quite a while the favorite hero of our poets, the best of whom have sung to his praises, and given space to his melancholy thoughts of modern times in which he is pushed aside.  It is too true that the post horn, formerly blown by a postilion, is now silenced, that the horse has not been able to keep up in the race with the world in its use of the steam horse, and yet how much poetry there is in that little post office all alone by itself on the Booby Island, that we have described—­the sublimest poetry, that of love for mankind!

The poet of the modern postal system has not yet appeared; but he will find plenty of material.  He will be able to depict the dangers a postman passes through in discharging his duty on the field, he will sing the praises of those who are injured in a railroad disaster, and yet continue their good work.

[Illustration:  FIG. 23.—­POST OFFICE ON BOOBY ISLAND.]

[Illustration:  FIG. 24.—­BOSNIAN POST.]

[Illustration:  FIG. 25.—­SWISS ALPINE POST IN WINTER.]

[Illustration:  FIG. 26.—­SOLDIER POSTMAN OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.]

He can also praise the noble thought of uniting the nations, which assumed its first tangible form in the world’s mail.  It will not be a sentimental song, but one full of power and indicative of our own time, in spite of those who scorn it.—­Translated for the Scientific American Supplement by Jenny H. Beach, from Neue Illustrirte Zeitung.

* * * * *

ON NICKEL PLATING.

By THOMAS T.P.  BRUCE WARREN.

The compound used principally for the electro-deposition of nickel is a double sulphate of nickel and ammonia.  The silvery appearance of the deposit depends mainly on the purity of the salt as well as the anodes.  The condition of the bath, as to age, temperature, and degree of saturation, position of anodes, strength of current, and other details of manipulation, which require care, cleanliness, and experience, such as may be met with in any intelligent workman fairly acquainted with his business, are easily acquired.