The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-30
OLD POSTAGE STAMPS.
How They Are Utilized to Maintain School
for Religious Teachers in Paris.

The often-discussedq question of the util-
ity or the absurdity Of collecting old pos
tage stamps Of common denominations In
immense quantities, with the vague notion
that in some way they will be OF Use to
some charitabl' organization, has been
running in the London papers of late, and
the final result has been to In q great
measure clear up the mystery that has
doubtless at some time or other crossed
the path of every one.- The ,gene-4 no.
ton is that million used stamps is re.
ouired for some purpose or other, but for
Just what purpose few of the collectors
are able to say. A prevalent notion was
that the stamps were used to buy Chinese
babies to be trained to Christian life.
After opening its columns for some Tune
for the reception of information on the
topic, the Pail Mall Gazette assumed to
close and settle the question by declaring
that it was conclusi7ely shown that ethe
idea That certain charities can be erect
ually benefited by accpmufatlons OF old
postage stamps is an elaborate deluslop" ;.
But a correspondent Of the Tablet, the
leading Catholic weekly OF England, INTO
which this conclusion was copied, writes
to show that the Pail Mall Gazette Is it
self deluded, and particularNes at least
one excellent charity that not only is ben
e6ted by the collecting of old postage
stamps, but is solely dependent on that
singular industry for Its existence. This Is
the Euvre de Marie Immaculee OF Pans.
The work of the institution consists IN
training missionary Catechists,' young
women who devote themselves. not, as
nuns, but as lay teachers, or catechlsts,
to the evangelization Of pagan women and
children in China and India. ..s....y
The rules of the institution prohibit the
collection of subscriptions ID any way, be-
cause this might divert money from
other and perhaps more worthy objects
of charity. But the society asks its well:
wishers the world over for used postage
stamps, which cost nothing to give away.
These stamps are made to yield q con-
siderable revenue as attested By the slze
OF the institution and the extent of its
work. s.s,-... .......s 2, ~...,, .Gror-.r..
The society's home is at 4S Rue de Bour-
gegne, and the Offices required there for
the handling and disposition Of the
stamps form quite 8 business block.
Great quantities OF stamps are re-
ceived 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 find
ing their way eventually to this place. A
considerable part OF the revenue OF the
society is derived from the sale of rare
specimens to dealers In stamps, and quite
often stamps Of the greatest value are re-
ceived. The greater part OF the stamps,
however, are ofcommon varieties, and are
used for decorative purposes. They are
arranged in all sorts Of odd, ingenious,
and pretty designs on cardboard, por-
CLAIM plaques, wall hangings, screens,
fans, and all manner Of ornaments. In
deed, there seems no end to the poss1bll-
tiles OF thus using the old stamps, and no
limit to ..the fantastic devices which the
clever designers in the institution work
out. A common device is to make
maps of stamps, each country being de-
ineated with stamps OF its own issue.
China services are covered with the por-
traits 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 artsti-
cally cut up and the beautiful designs
of borders used with great effect.
The Secretsry-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
CORE espondent believes there are several
other worthy charities either solely de-
pendent or largely helped, in like manner,
by the collection Of old postage stamps.