Old Sayings I dont understand

[lifesaver]

So you see on old movies and tv documentaries where people say that they would "send for their things," or "send for their family."

Exactly how was that done? I've always wondered. If you send for your things, did you send a letter and say mail it to me at the following address? Did you actually send someone to go get your stuff? And if you could send someone else, why couldnt you just go get it yourself? Would you just tell your family how to get to wherever you were? If it was so dangerous that you had to go it alone, how was it ok for your wife and kids to make the same journey, by themselves.

I've always been confused by that. Can anyone explain this to me?