| Lots of packages must travel across the miles | | | | and the recipient of the package; don't use |
| at Christmas gift's lovingly chosen, fancily | | | | abbreviations. And even if you feel you write |
| wrapped, and carrying as well a precious | | | | a good hand it is always better to print than |
| burden of affection for someone. Yet millions | | | | to use handwriting. |
| of these packages travel at a time of year | | | | |
| when the post office facilities are extremely | | | | Tie up your carton with medium-heavy cord, |
| overtaxed, help is often inadequately | | | | wound tightly around the entire package at |
| trained, and weather conditions are, in | | | | least two or three times and knotted with |
| general, poor. How can we be sure our | | | | simple double knots. Very heavy twine is not |
| packages will get there on time, and in good | | | | as safe, strangely enough, because it is too |
| condition? | | | | heavy to pull tight and therefore slips off |
| | | | the package more easily. |
| Start with a packing plan. Make a list of the | | | | |
| packing supplies that you'll need string, | | | | Regulations governing packages to be mailed |
| tape, labels, cartons and buy them all in one | | | | within 150 miles are different from those for |
| trip to the stationery store. | | | | packages to be mailed farther than that, as |
| | | | far as the weight permitted is concerned. |
| The very best container for a Christmas gift | | | | There is another regulation for the weight of |
| that must be mailed is a fresh new cardboard | | | | packages which have an APO address. Check |
| carton. Sometimes you can obtain from local | | | | these rules with the post office if you want |
| merchants cartons which are in excellent | | | | to send heavy packages, since the rules may |
| condition, with firm corners and intact | | | | change from time to time. You may express a |
| flaps. Or they can be bought; buying a carton | | | | package of any weight, no matter how heavy. |
| is well worth while if it protects a valuable | | | | |
| present. | | | | The post office strongly advises December 1 |
| | | | as the deadline on mailed packages. It's |
| If there is even a remote chance that a gift | | | | better to chance their arriving a bit early, |
| could be broken or crushed, use two cartons, | | | | with a DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS sticker, |
| one inside the other. The inner carton should | | | | than to run the slightest risk of their not |
| be big enough to allow at least a 2 inch | | | | arriving until the day after The Day. |
| clearance all around the package enclosed on | | | | |
| all four sides as well as at the top and | | | | Expressing by rail or air are quicker |
| bottom. | | | | methods, of course, than mailing a package; |
| | | | be sure to investigate these ways if you've |
| Don't let a present rattle around in a | | | | let an important package slip past December |
| carton, whether you use two, as recommended, | | | | 1. |
| or one. The best, cheapest cushioning is | | | | |
| shredded newspaper; crumpled newspaper | | | | Flat, non-breakable objects, such as books, |
| doesn't have enough give to protect the gift | | | | need a double corrugated-paper covering. |
| from the shock of handling. Use enough | | | | Envelop the book lengthwise in a corrugated |
| shredded paper so that there is no rattling | | | | strip, seal with gummed tape. Wrap a second |
| or shifting when the package is shaken back | | | | strip around the width and seal. Use heavy |
| and forth. | | | | brown paper for outer wrapping. |
| | | | |
| For the utmost safety, make out two labels: | | | | If you are sending a very small package in a |
| one for the outside and one to be placed | | | | box of its own, you must enclose it in a |
| inside the carton. The post office objects to | | | | larger carton to be sure of its safe |
| more than one label on the outside, but if | | | | delivery, and cut down the danger of loss. |
| you express the package, use two outside | | | | |
| labels. | | | | When you follow these guidelines, you can be |
| | | | sure you gift will arrive on time and intact. |
| Use the full names and addresses of yourself | | | | |