- Sergey Rosedkin -
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	NOSTALGIA BY MAIL … THE CENTURY BEFORE LAST Earlier I got mail from a mail box, now — mail gets me … In sense — the to a limit unostentatious service. I already and newspapers do not write out, but only I buy (there was a case when half a year did not deliver me a literary monthly journal!), and with friends-acquaintances I communicate basically by e-mail, and I go to a post office only once a month on the emergency — mail has appropriated it is not known why the right to collect from us a room tribute. Its One more "hobby" — trade in book paper for recycling, handles, films, soap, shampoos and in general than popadja, thanks God, what not condoms and beer. Where here about the basic job to think! But — to the facts. Unfortunately, not all my addressees have an access to the Internet, and the parcel post or a parcel on "mail" will be not not sent. Last day February I in a neighbouring country have sent Poland banderolku is powerful 0,5 kg and have resignedly paid the fabulous sum for my purse — 89 rbl. 50 copeck On a package hardly have sufficed a place for stamps. Though, of course, it was necessary to grin anecdotalisms of a situation: in the parcel post the book in cost 45 rbl. laid, and to pay for its transfer it was necessary twice more. But I did not know, what is it yet joke, but only an introduction: on March, 5th pochtalonka has returned me my parcel post on which a pencil appeared: payment — 114 rbl. When I upset have come tearing along, in branch, the woman-operator postukala by buttons of the calculator and has requested surcharges 31 rbl. more 50 copeck, that is together with former — 121 rbl. (4 dollars!) By the way, operators I just for what I do not blame: the prices in their department so raise often, moreover from sales all of them time should cover with any 5 percent taxes (in my opinion, only in post department this tax and tear up) so to get confused no wonder. Me another, being expressed by a cultural euphemism (that not matjugnutsja), frappirovalo: I have tried to find out, what for it was necessary to return my ill-fated parcel post from Moscow when the capital could demand only surcharge, wait acknowledgement, that I have paid in addition, and to send my eight-March gift further … I hardly on a floor have not sat down, when have heard, that anybody also did not think the parcel post from Tambov to send — it only from local post office have returned. That is, I underline, whole 5 (five!) days the parcel post was weighed also by calculations conducted — whether the sufficient sum have torn off from the client for the unostentatious service … Well, let's specify about the prices. But to deprive of our homebrew monopolists of possibility again to hang up to us on ears habitual noodles about that-de we pay their services not for all hundred percent as it is necessary in civilised countries, calculations we will spend in comparable sizes — concerning the minimum day earnings. I have asked on the Internet of acquaintances in New York and Boston to supply me with corresponding data (whether America a civilised country!) . It turns out about the following. At us in Russia the minimum salary — 15 rbl. a day (300 rbl. or about $10 a month); in the USA — 46 dollars a day (minimum at an o'clock — $5,75). Now we will estimate: for transfer of the parcel post from me took already 806 % of the Russian day earnings or only 6,25 % American. A difference almost in 130 times. Here to you and "civilisation"! For those who cannot believe in such figures in any way, I will result even more correct comparison: my companion just sent recently the parcel post the book and too in weight in half-kg from New York to Germany, having paid 4,5 dollars. It would Seem, for uninitiated, even hardly more than I have paid, but actually, really if besides to compare with the minimum day earnings, — in 115 times it is less, than I. And my parcel post from Tambov to Poland reached overland 14 days, and the parcel post from New York to Germany (not avia — the sea-ocean) — only 8. About terms conversation generally the separate. The god from it with Poland! I on March, 23rd this year have sent the certified mail with the notice to Moscow (only five hundred versts!), it has been delivered the addressee it 27‑го (for the fourth day), and the notice back went still nespeshnee — nine days and I have received it already on April, 5th. And here not to do without history. In the autumn of 1859 writer Dostoevsky after returning from Siberia of veins some time in Tver. And here on October, 9th he writes to the brother to Petersburg: «Has received, invaluable mine Misha, your letter from 6‑го yesterday …» Perhaps opiska? No, in the following letter (on October, 11th) again: « Kindest I Misha, has received your letter from October, 9th and now I answer. Very much I worry: whether you have received my letter?. Yesterday should receive. I wrote it 9‑го. On a stamp on your letter appears, that it has gone from Petersburg 10‑го … »That is almost 150 years ago letters from Petersburg to Tver and back (distance even more than between Tambov and Moscow) reached for two, and even one day (mail then, unlike present, was morning and evening). Also what then to name progress? And impatient Feodor Mihajlovich also complains to the same brother (in the letter from October, 20th, 1859 ):« Our post office is extremely faulty … »Anything to itself"is faulty"! What mot would be picked up by great Russian master of a word for a designation of job of present post office? And here at such extortionate prices for services (I about absolutely wild 9-12 % of requisitions from remittances abroad and to 8 % on Russia have not mentioned!) At such "faulty" to put it mildly to job about one only and to dream remains — though would not be rude to you on mail. However, and with it here naprjazhyonka. I have solved recently already from post office (for speed of business) to send one more certified mail with the notice. Turn. That time not to lose, has asked for the girl behind glass supposedly give the notice form, I while will fill it. The girl has muttered supposedly spread three fifty, then ladies. I was have tried to explain, that at me the 50-rouble denomination, already turn worries, that I will fill at it on eyes and I will mourn over the form, as well as it is necessary, together with the letter. No, the girl — you has even more unfriendly muttered, say, much here such goes, all will not follow … I did not begin to explain to the beauty, what if the person himself does not steal, to it will not come in a head a priori to suspect of it others, has put validolchiku under language, has gone to pochtamtskomu to the heads — really such rudeness at them is legalised and encouraged? We spoke with the chief of post office  V.A.Portnov absolutely in different languages, though and like in Russian: he to me about a liability of the post worker, I to it about inconvenience of the client forced twice to stand in a queue to send one letter; it to me about dishonest people whom 50 copeck can covet 3 rbl., I to it about that it is impossible to suspect all and everyone; I to it about a professional duty of post workers if not to smile to clients then to be polite and to apologise for the delivered inconveniences, it to me again about a liability … There was I an immense office gna Portnov and have as though forked, in sense could not solve in any way that I would like more: whether to return to a century XIX when mail was, on Dalju, «establishment of the urgent message», whether as though to get to a century XXII when, it is possible not to doubt, mail in its present kind simply otomryot as superfluous more soon. After all all correspondence up to parcels will be forwarded by any kinetichesko-virtual way, and to trade yes to be engaged in requisitions and besides pochtarej hunters suffices … «The Tambov courier», On May, 13th, 2002; "Work", On September, 17th, 2002
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© Rosedkin Sergey Nikolaevich, 2001
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