Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Two days after Postman's Day, President Chen Shui-bian congratulated Taiwan postmen in his weekly telecast Saturday.
The president recalled a postman in his hometown in Tainan some 40 years ago who not only delivered mail but also read letters received by illiterate farmers.
After reading the letters, the postman would offer free personal comments to the recipient, such as: "Your sick relative would certainly feel much better if you went to visit him, " or: "Your son is so filial that I would like him as my son-in-law if I had a daughter."
The postman's kindly extra service made him a welcome friend in the neighborhood.
The president said he also harbored warm feelings toward the postmen who delivered his admissions to junior and senior high school and who helped him court his wife Wu Shu-jen by delivering his love letters to her.
Now that e-mail has largely replaced postmen, the president said it can never replace postmen in delivering kindness and warmth.