Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-20
THE FIRST POSTAGE STAMPS.

the memory OF them and refuse to be cousoed
by all the improvements of the present.
THE FIRST POSTAGE STAMPS
The gentleman who delivered the first post
age stamps to the post Office of New York, Bos-
ton and Philadelphia resides here and told me
the first amount ordered for the whole coun-
try was S65.000 worth. He left at the New
York post Office 81 900 worth: Boston, $4,000
worth and Philadelphia. 900 WORTH and the
rest of those printed were distributed in like
proportion throughout the country and he
then sealed up the plates aud deposited them
IN the New York custom house. That was
early in the forties-he thinks Cave johnson
or Mr.. Wickliffe was Postmaster General.
did not inquire, for it was hardly necessary,
what is the yearly supply today-many millions,
of course.
Speaking of Baltimore and the old times aad
her old citizens am reminded OF an expert
ence l had at the only spiritualistic seance
ever attended, and as it relates TO an old Balti-
more family, may include it in this "ominum
gatherum," and infiict it on the readers of The
STAR this week.
A sPIRITUALIsTIC sEANcE.
1 had an old friend in New York, the proprie-
tor OF one OF the principal hotels there. and Of
another in Springfield, ILL.,, who was a hrm
believer in spiritualism and derived great COM
fort from communications he received through
the mediums" from mis- mother, who had been
long dead. So firm was his faith and 20 con-
selling were these written communications,
had not the heart to disturb his belief, but read
them with interest for they were beautiful. as
coming from loving mother. He invited me
one night to go to a seance, and with some
other friends l went. The usual darkened
room, &C., and some manifestations In which
| felt no interest occupied some time and then
to my surprise and amusement, which tried 70
conceal. the spirit of Nelse Seymour. the negro
| minstrel, was announced. l had laughed 50
| often at his inimitable performance-for he wa,
| the most amusing of the profession-that
could not refrain, to the disgust OF the faithful
| The voice that came to US, from what they said
was spirit. was the voice-and a very peculiar
one he had-of Nelse Seymour; its every tone
and expression was what had heard from him
in life l was startled. Mr.. Mcdonald, the
sculptor, was with US, and l expressed to him
my surprise After some time, during which
he cautioned my friend against some bad
spirits who had deceived him and obtained con-
siderable money from him, expressed desire
TO ask Seymour a question. 1 did so, through
the medium. who was the manager OF the exhi-
bition / asked: "Where were you born and
what was your fathers name?" Without a mo-
ment's hesitation he replied: II was born
in Baltimore, in Old Town, and my father was
Col Henry s. Sanderson. sheriff Of Baltimore
for years" And he described the house, which
knew well, AMI had known when boy. L
doubt il there was man in New York, but
myself who knew him and his father and his
right name l was astonished and said to my
friends that is true. / am, however. still a
skeptic, my knowledge of this world and my
faith in the next remains and always VIII re-
main unchanged. but l can say with Hamlet:
There are more things in heaven and earth,
Horatlo than are dreamed of in thy philoso-
phy." While on this theme l must relate my
experience with Foster, who one OF the
most remarkable men l ever met. went into
Satora's in New York one night to meet Jack
Owens, who was playing an engagement at
Booths Theater, and. as he had not vet come, j
walked back intea reading room and was reading
Punch when some one called me. an old friend,
and with him a gentleman l had never seen.
but recognized intuitively as Foster. He had
never seen me, but as walked past the table at
which they were seated he said TO my friend:
THAT Is Mr.. Coyle. is it not? want to know
him." was introduced, said was waiting for
my friend Owens. and at their request took seat
with them, and in few moments Owens Joined
us, and we spent some hours together. When
We separated Foster gave me his address and
asked to call and said he had communication to
make to me. / declined to hear it, and every
time we met, and this was some years before
his death. he repeated he had a communication
to make. but declined to hear it. and though
l visited him always when in the same city, and
a most interesting man he was. he did not
force the communication on me. L have no
desire to seek information from the other world.
l am content to wait until get there. BY the
bye, zee the memoirs Of John E. Owens has
been published. / will get it and recall some
memories Of the years we have known each
other. Capital actor he was. His John Unit
and Caleb Plummer we're the best l ever saw,
and his Olldpod, Pdngloss, Major DE Boots
and host Of other characters "still lingering
haunt the greenest spot on memorys waste"
JOHN +. CoYLE.