Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1909 — "CHICAGO LOCATED. [ARTICLE]

"CHICAGO LOCATED.

The New York Poetoffice Discovered It / In Illinois. Where is Chicago? This abstruse geographical problem must have given considerable brain fag to employees of the New York postoffice recently. The history of their researches to establish the whereabouts of the town with the "odd sounding name, don’t you know,” may be read easily from the face of an envelope received a few days ago by the Dally New’s. The envelope was of the ordinary gray variety used by the foreign service of the Dally News. It was from London—from London, England. The address it bore, in large, black printed letters, was: “Chicago Daily News, 123 Fifth Avenue, Chicago, U. S. A.”

That was all. The New York postoffice had nothing more to guide it in furthering the progress of the missive than these few words. What wonder that the letter should finally reach its destination bearing the proud legend, stamped in red ink, "Deficiency in address supplied by N. Y. P. O,” and written in red ink beneath the hieroglyphic "Chicago,” the guiding syllable “Ill.” which had been omitted from the original address. Thus did New York supply the “deficiency.” While contemplating this Interesting record of the zeal of the New Yorkers In working for the betterment of the postal service, it Is easy to imagine the turmoil into w’hlch the eastern office was thrown when the foreign malls brought in this meagerly addressed missive. The trouble probably started with a minor clerk reading the brief inscription, scratching his head perplexedly and asking his neighbor in the most approved Pall Mall fashion: “Oh, I say, old chap, did you ever hear of Chicago?” Then two heads were scratched, and the cry was passed along the line, “Where, oh, where is Chicago?” until at last it reached the astute ears of some scholarly old fellow who was willing to set to work and solve the problem. Getting down his charts of the wild and unexplored western lands, he let his forefinger w’ander across its prairies, along its river valleys and finally about the border of its lakes until he came at last to the faintly imprinted letters, “Chicago.” Oh, joy! 'lt was found. There remained only to discover what state line surrounded the obscure village thus designated. Illinois, the map stated. Chicago, then, is in Illinois. How easy when one, knows how! Back along the line passed the w’ord, “Chicago is in Illinois!”

The problem was solved. The efficiency of the New York postoffice was proved. Hastily grabbing his pen, the first clerk wrote in triumph, “Ill.,” and sent the letter securely along its destined route.—Chicago News.