The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-24

A Stamp.Colleetion story.

Some time in October last, says the
Boston Post uf u resent issue. an aged
lady in New York city, finding herself
without the means 10 procure the neces-
saIies Of life, made application TO yari-
ous persons for assistance IN obtaining
admission a. the st. Luke'H Home for
Women in that city. One gentleman u
whom she applied asked her If she was
willing 10 make "a great effort 10 obtain
the desired end. She replied that u
was not much that she could DO, but her
will was good, and she would try. The
gentleman then replied: of You will
collect one million of old postage stamps
| will give you the $500 needed to Oh
tain admission 10 the Home. The old
lady was at first discouraged However,
as sho WAS a person Of much energy and
courage, she went 10 work IN earnest
She first sought the assistance Of some
friends of better days, and was fortunate
in finding two ladies noted for their
energy in works Of charity, Mrs, Glib
bins and Mrs. Halstead. Of New York,
who promised 10 aid her. Their plan
was as follows: To call at many OF the
offices in the city and ask that all the
mtamps ON the letters received might be
saved. Mrs. Gibbins also wrote 10 the
wife Of Mr.. T. q. Champney, the artist,
Of this city, requesting her assistance.
Mrs. Champney at once began work.
She informed her friends Of the scheme
and requested their assistance.
The enthusiasm with which this idea
was received was wonderful. Children
began 10 watch for letters that came 10
their houses with almost aA much i'm
patience AS any lover watches for dainty,
perfnmed notes Men and women on
receiving letters would proceed % cut
OF the stamp before reading the epistle.
From hundreds the number became
thousands and ten thousands. Last
week all that Was wanted 20 complete
the amount was niuety-four thousand.
On receiving the contributions from
various sources this week IL was found
that they had one million and Ave thou
sand, and IN informing the gentleman
who takes the stamps Of the fact be
offered to give another free bed IN DIR.
BurghArt's Hospital for u second million,
the bed 10 be disposed ot by MesdAmea
Gibbins and HRlstead 20 the most de-
serving person known 20 them.
On being informed that her home for
life was ensured the lady expressed her
gratitude to the kind friends who had
assisted her. Although having had the
assistance of many. the lady has gather
ei by her own personal efforts u,,. three
hundred thousand stamps III the past
ten weeks, or an average Of thirty thou
sand in week or i've thousand III a
day. The stamps on being received
we're counted and tied up in packages Of
one hundred each. aud then ten Of these
packages were tied together, and IN this
form they were sent - the gentleman
who has agreed q furnish the money.
What tinal deposition was 10 be made
OF the stamps was Tor long time mat
ter Of much curiosity. IL wAs at last
ascrrtAined that they are 10 be sent 20
Europe 10 bo used IN the manufacture ot
papior .mache goots, the paper Of which
the stamps are male making them very
desirable, aud the mucilage also adding
TO their strength. The million stamps
packed in the manner described. hli an
ordinary Saratoga trunk.