The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-06-01
OLD POSTAGE STAMPS.
How They Are Used to Maintain
a Religious School in Paris.
Many Millions of Used Stamps Collected
by People All Over the World
Find Their Way to
This Place.

The often-discussed question of the
utility or the absurdity of collecting
old postage stamps of common denom-
nations in immense quantities, with
the vague notion that in some way
they will be of use to some charitable
organization, has been running in the
London papers of late, and the final
result has been to in a great measure
clear up the mystery that has doubt
less at some time or other crossed the
path of every one. The general notion
is that million used stamps are re-
quired for some purpose or other, but
for just what purpose few of the col
lectors are able to say. A prevalent
notion was that the stamps were used
to buy Chinese babies to be trained to
a Christian life. After opening it's
columns for some time for the recep-
tion of information on the topic, the
Pail Mall Gazette assumed to close and
settle the question by declaring that
it was conclusively shown that "the
idea that certain charities can be eff
fectually benefited by accumulations
of old postage stamps is an elaborate
delusion."
But a correspondent of the Tablet
the leading Catholic weekly of Eng
land, into which this conclusion was
copied, writes to show that the Pail
Mall Gazette is itself deluded, and par
ticularizes at least one excellent char
ity that not only is benefited by the
collecting of old postage stamps, but
is solely dependent on that singular
industry for it's existence. This is the
Guvre de Marie Immaculee of Paris.
The work of the institution consists
in training Missionary Catechists,"
young women who devote themselves,
not as nuns, but as lay teachers, or
catechists, to the evangelization of
pagan women and children of China
and India.
The rules of the institution prohibit
the collection of subscriptions in any
way, because this might divert money
from other and perhaps more worthy
objects of charity. But the society
asks it's well-wishers the world over
for used postage stamps, which cost
nothing to give away. These stamps
are made to yield considerable rev.
enue, as attested by the size of the in
stitution and the extent of it's work.
The society's home is at 4S Rue de
Bourgonge, and the offices required
there for the handling and disposition
of the stamps form quite business
block. Great quantities of stamps are
received from every part of the world,
many millions collected by young en-
thusiasts who have no distinct idea of
what will ultimately become of them
finding their way eventually to this
place. A considerable part of the rev.
enue of the society is derived from the
sale of rare specimens to dealers in
stamps, and quite often stamps of the
greatest value are received. The great
er part of the stamps, however, are of
common varieties, and are used for
decorative purposes. They are ar
ranged in all sorts of odd, ingenious
and pretty designs on cardboard, por-
celain plaques, wall hangings, screens,
fans and all manner of ornaments. In
deed there seems no end to the possi-
bilities of thus using the old stamps,
and no limit to the fantastic devices
which the clever designers in the in
stitution work out. A common device
is to make maps of stamps, each coun-
try being delineated with stamps of it's
own issue. China services are covered
with the portraits and Illuminated
borders of stamps and then coated with
varnish and baked in the usual way.
The stamps are not usually pasted on
whole, but are artistically cut up and
the beautiful designs of borders used
with great effect.
The secretary-general of the society
says that the demand for the articles
made by the institution is greatly in
excess of the supply, and it wants all
the old stamps it can possibly get, for,
she says, ''its only resources are in the
sale of old postage stamps given to us
in charity" The correspondent be-
lieves there are several other worthy
charities either solely dependent or
largely helped, in like manner, by the
collection of old postage stamps.