The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-26
A USELESS FORTUNE.
Columbian stamps to the Value of
SI25.OO0.

New YORK Herald.
There is a woman in New York today
who actually possesses the round sum OF
slice 900. and - nevertheless as poor as the
poorest wretch who has just been dePos-
tied in the street by "A not over tender
sheriff and his ernissar3es because she has
failed TO pay her monthly rent. Though
rich enough TO live in luxury she is at the
same time too p0or 10 support herself
even in most modest and humble man
ner.
For years she has been member of So
ciety. Hers was the set OF people that
think life very much worth living. A
happy girl, proud bride, a most forum
ate wife, and finally a Wei prov.ded-for
widow, she finds herself within a year OF
her husbands death face TO face with
privations that are the common lot OF so
many 10 whom tickle fortune has never
turned her smiling face. And thereby
hangs a tale.
''rwo-dollar Columbian stamps. unused.
perfect condition, original gum. for $i.s5
each"
This and more formed the text of cir
cular spread broadcast over the city few
days ago. IL was a cheap affair, small
piece Of gray paper. clumsily put up and
altogether one of the lowest of ITS kind in
the way OF workmanship. But IL attracted
a good deal OF attention and some COM
ment.
There are those who regarded the falling
off in price OF Uncle Sans stamps as "A
sure sign OF the beginning of the end.
There were red-hot Mckinley boasters
who attributed IL TO silver and Bryan and
what not There was one man, though.
who was deeply interested In the plain
wording of the circular. He thought there
was something more behind the mere fact
that United States stamps had 20 be adj
vert.sed for sale at reduced prices 10 find
a market. The circular was traced to the
man who penned 4t--a Mr.. Aibrecht Isoe-
wit. notary public. with an Office at Els
East Seventy-sixth street. Mr.. L0ewst
was not averse to discussing the matter.
IN fact, he was more than willing TO dis
close the facts. but drew the line on one
thing--he refused point blank to reveal The
name OF The woman IN the case.
You see" he said, IN the way of argtl-
ment. 81 published the circular on behalf
of a certain lady who cuts quite a figure in
society. No. this is not a fake As adj
mdnistrator of the legacy OF a phiiatel st
who was in hts lifetime very
prominent in Harlem. / sell these
stamps for Jess than their face value
because the whole estate consists Of these
stamps. and the lady is really in want OF
Aglng money.
This man had been very rscn. and was
supposed 10 be a shrewd man. lie met
the Waterloo OF his career when be con
yerted all his sav3ngs-soFne $lza oo0-.n the
purchase of Columbian stamps when they
were first ISSUED. with a view OF selling
them afterward at a premium. He had
great expectations. but they failed 20 ma
terialsze. The pane came on and money
grew scarce. People were not buying
stamps Just then. lie died shortly after
ward, a much dlsapro' rte3 man. leaving
BIS whole estate. appraae-. at 500 900. 70
his wife. This estate consists Of stamps.
from penny upward.
Now comes what YOU may call para
d0x OF life. His widow. wno has all her
lie been accustomed 10 All the luxuries. a
loving hsisnaFsd and all that wealth can
procure. suddenly foursl herself as poor as
any wasnerWofman with nothing in IN $
world TO support her hut pair OF strong.
wEIfng hands. There were pressing debts.
terms overdue. and bills galore. The poor
woman was IN despair She tried % sell
fns stamps in big patches, bgI failed 70
realize more than g. 80. which hardly COW
cred the expenses Of burial and proba Ding
the H1A.
~ a last resort we wrote 20 ne post
master general offering 70 sell he stamps
Or exchange them for others Used at pres
emf He replied that tire government could
not exchange stamps"