pole. He will be spared the long journeys over the ice-fields, which all
Arctic explorers have found to be the hardest part of their work.

* * * * *

The Sixth Convention of the Universal Postal Union is being held in
Washington this month. Delegates from all over the world are here to
attend it.

The Postal Union is a union of governments to regulate the postal
business between nations.

As the correspondence of the world grew larger, and the improved means
of travelling made it possible for men to journey to all parts of the
earth, great trouble was found in the handling of the mail matter.

The rates for carrying letters varied for each country, and infinite
work and delay was caused by the calculation made necessary thereby.

At last a few of the countries most interested in the matter formulated
a Universal Postal Union, which established a fixed rate for letters
sent to all countries in the Union.

This plan was first suggested at Berne, in Switzerland, in 1874.

The countries agreeing to abide by this rule styled themselves the
Universal Postal Union, and made many useful laws for the transmission
of mail matter.

It was the hope when the Association was started that every country in