Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-01-14

N HNQfV UNf1g AuSt, phy . bhS ANNW
| Wv, AM York Herald, For
l-Q..ll/S0EEE& every woman who
| IAbIISJR%$1A bathes in milk to
NO ! IC1ys{{d5TytJl preserve the soft
| M0SNS8A1SkjyW ness OF her skin,
SSSStEhW who revels in lux
ury and makes
fashion her law, there may be found
In this great city women with the hopes
In their broken hearts that the end
might be near-women who long for
an untimely grave, where there is no
want, no sorrow-only eternal rest.
But there is a woman in New York
to-day who actually possesses the
round sum OF 100000 and is neverthe-
less as poor as the poorest wretch who
has just been deposited in the street by
not-over-tender sheriff and HRS ennis
saries because she had failed to pay
her monthly rent. Though rich enough
to live in luxury, she is at the same
time too poor to support herself even
In modest and humble manner.
For years she has been q member Of
society, Hers was the set of people
that think life very much worth liv-
ing. A happy girl, proud bride,
most fortunate wife and, finally, a
-provided-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 to
whom tickle fortune has never turned
her smiling face. And thereby hangs
tale.
"Two-dollar Columbian stamps, uns
used perfect condition, original gum,
for $1.S5 each"
This and more formed the text Of
a circular spread over the city a few
days ago. 1t was q cheap affair, a
small piece OF gray paper, clumsily
put up, and altogether one of the low
est Of its kind in the way Of workman
ship. But 1t attracted a good deal of
attention and some comment.
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 was one man,
though, who was deeply interested in
the plain wording Of the circular. He
thought there was something more be.
hind the mere fact that United States
stamps had to be advertised for sale at
reduced prices to find q market The
circular was traced to the man who
penned TIA notary public. He was
not averse to discussing the matter
In fact, he was more than willing to
disclose the facts, but drew the line
on one thing-he refused pointblank
to reveal the name Of the woman In
the case.
"You see," he said, in the way Of ar
Igument, Unpublished the circular on be-
half Of certain lady who cuts quite q
figure in society. No, this is not a
fake An administrator Of the legacy
Of philatellst who was in his life
time very prominent in Harlem.
sell these stamps for less than their
face value because the whole estate
consists of these stamps and the lady
Is really In want of living money.
"This man had been very rich and
was supposed to be shrewd man. He
met the Waterloo Of his career when
he converted all his savings some
$685. 00-into the purchase OF Column
bian stamps when they were first is
sued, with view Of selling them after.
ward at a premium. He had great ex-
pectations, but they failed to mate
riallze. The panic came on and money
grew scarce. People were not buying
stamps just then. He died shortly aft
erward, uch-disappointed man,
leaving his whole estate, appraised at
100000, to Ais wife. This estate con-
slsts Of stamps, from a penny upward.
Now comes what you may call a
paradox Of life His widow, who had
all her life been accustomed to all the
luxurles, q loving husband and all that
wealth can procure, suddenly found
herself as poor as any washerwoman
with nothing In this world to support
her but pair OF strong, willing hands.
There were pressing debts, terms over
due, and bills galore. The poor woman
was in despair. She tried to sell the
stamps in big patches, but failed to
realize more than $4,000, which hardly
covered the expenses Of burial and pro-
batting the will.
"As last resort we applied to the
postmaster-general, offering to sell the
stamps or exchange them for others
used at present. On October 16 we re-
celved a short reply. It stated briefly
that neither this department nor its
postmasters will redeem or exchange
postage stamps