Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-18
voLAPUk AND POSTAL REFORMS.
How the Reply Postal Card Came to Re
Adopted.

Adopted.
A link in the history of the introduction Of
tss reply paid postal card is given in the
following paper by Mr.. jacob Frech Of
this city. read at the third annual con-
vention of the North American volapuk Asso-
citation, held at Worcester, Mars, in October
last:
No ardent volapuk student is content until
he has tested the language by writing to vols-
spukans Of different countries and nations of
the Garth. and the final adoption BY the United
States of the reply-paid postal card appears
to have grown out of this Circumstance. The
writer, q member of the North American
Volapuk Association. received in September,
1881. yolapuk communication from his corre-
spondent, Pietro Poletti, in Annoy. China. in
which he expressed the hope that there would
soon he adopted universal postal card cur
rent between all countries whatever. This re-
mark set the recipient to thinking While it
may be q long time before all nations might
agree to universal postal card. why not, as a
beginning at least adopt some form Of a reply
paid postal card to facilitate correspondence
Investigation at the patent Office developed. a
number of slumbering devices invented years
ago, soon after the introduction OF the ordinary
postal card, to accomplish the purpose of
reply-paid postal card. Why none OF these
had been adopted is not known. 1t is probable
that they were too complicated for general use.
However, this volapuk communication was i'm
mediately forwarded to the Postmaster General
with suggestion that an international postage
stamp, and also reply paid postal card, would
be of commercial advantage. reply was
ceived that at the proper time the suggestions
would be duly considered by the Post Office
Department. Soon afterward an actual reply
paid postal card written in volapuk was re-
ceived from Yosef BernhAupt, post controller
of Cos IrrhN lal hao l.
the mean time on the subiect), stating that such
cards have been in use in that country and in
Austria for many years. This WAS the first
reply-paid postal card seen by the writer.
The form of this card was very simple, more
so than any of those forms found in the patent
office. 1t was also Immediately sent to the
Post Office Department. with suggestion that
this form be speedily adopted by the United
States. In a few days reply was received that
the department has now under consideration
the advisability Of issuing reply postal cards,
both domestic and foreign.
That volapuk has been instrumental in the
dissemination and growth of practical though:
and ideas springing up in different countries
no two speaking the same language, and result
ing in the adoption in this country at the pres
ent time of factor in the social and business
world OF great convenience to over 80. 900 900
OF people. is evidenced by the result attained.
With regard to the international stamp Mr.
Frech suggested. under date Of October o.
1891, as preliminary and experimental step
toward the adoption of an international post
age stamp. current between any two countries
whatever in the postal union, that agreement
be entered into between tho United States and
the countries composing the postal union to the
effect that the postage stamp now issued by
any country shall be also originally current in
any Of the other countries on letters addressed
to the country issuing the stamp. in the same
manner that it is now current in those eoun-
tries on letters addressed from the country is
suing the stamp. This would neeessitate no
change whatever in the present system of
stamps and would fill 4 long-felt want in for
eign correspondence, viz. the means Of inclos-
ing stamps for reply and for settling small bal
ances too trifing to warrant trouble and expense
of foreign postal orders