The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-05-12
MOBILES REVENGE.
HE GOT EVEN WITH THE AUTHOR
OF THE SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP.

For Sufficient Reasons. which Appear
In This story.
Milton Mobiles, the actor and author,
und Senator Villas were schoolmatcs III
Madison 80 years ago, and they went
from the schcolhouec to- the war to-
gcther Mobiles thinks II good deal of
his old schoolmnte and is proud of the
distinction he has won among the great
men of his party.
When the special delivery stamp
made its appearance, Senator Villas,
who was then postmaster general, re-
ccivcd many complimentary letters.
among them one from Mobiles The rest
Of the story is best told by the author
himself:
"When / wrote this letter Of congrat-
ulation to the general, hadn't had &C
cnsion TO use or receive any Of the
stanps, but the idea seemed to me 10
be good one. was spending week
ut home in Brooklyn at the time. One
bitter morning about O'Clock | was
awakened by what seemed to me to he
the ringing Of all the fire bells in
Brooklyn. Showing my head out of the
second story window, | could see
mufilcd figure Oh the steps below jerk
ing the bell with savage fury. What is
it, / asked. At that moment the bell
wire broke, aud the figure fell back
ward down the steps The snow was
knee deep, and the wind was blowing
90 miles an hour. As the figure rolled
down the steps could hear some choice
specimens Of explosive English in n
familiar accent, mingled with some
thing about letter, special delivery.
After removing chains and bolts l
opened the outer door, and the messen
ger blew into the vestibule in sheet Of
snow.
"'what is it? What have you got?'
Letter.
"What the Helen Blazes are you
bringing n letter here for at this time of
night?'
Especial delivery, sir, please.
II backed into the hall and slid my
hand all over the wall, trying to find
the matchsafe. The vestibule was full
of snow, and / had commenced sneez-
ing.
ed. Bang went the door and out went
my match just as / had got the gas
turned on. The messenger bumped up
against me in the dark, stepped on my
toes and shook shovelful Of snow off
his shoulders about my feet, filing my
slippers and dropping down my back.
/ finally succeeded in lighting the gas,
signing the book, pushing the messen-
ger out and bolting the door Then l
went up stairs with my prize. l exam
ined the long blue stamp carefully. 1t
was the first one that l had received.
Then l devoted about five minutes to
wondering what the dickens it was all
about. After time it occurred to me
to open it and see. The handwriting
wa. unknown, but the refrain was ia
miliar. Here it is:
"suEpoyoAs, Wis, Jan. 10.
"Mii.on Notles Esq.:
DEAR SIR-You will doubtless be surprised
Mt receiving this letter from an entire stran'
ger But feel that was born TO be an actor.
Il am but 80 8 feet 0, light curly hair, blue
eyes and have played several parts with the
Sheboygan Amateur society. inclose notices
My family object TO my going on the stage, but
/ feel that IL is my duty, and as i would only
join n first class conn any my friends urged
me TO write to you Should like TO play lovers
parts. ! saw you play in Milwaukee last fall
Can come amy time. ! have also written @
play. Could you lend me $50? Yours to com
mand, l. ARTHUR JONES
"(Steee nrme-E. Forrest Melnottel
"P. S.--Tho new special delivery stamp has
Just got here, and put one on to see how Il
works. j. A. j.
by tho time had finished reading
this letter l had chill. Three hours
later had such cold that could not
open my eyes remained in my room
for treatment for three days. On the
fourth day became convalescent, ant
the first labor performed was the writ
ing of the following letter:
"BRooKLyN, Jan. 20.
"Hon. ". T. Villas. Postmaster General, Wash
"DEAR SIR-Quite recently, In n moment o
unguardod cnthusiGsm, wrote you a lettc
congratulating You upon the brilliant strok'
Of genius made manifest in the promulgatioi
of the special delivery stamp
"Reccnt events have given me n wide
knowledge of the subject and opened my eye
TO the pernicious consequences likely to follow
your gigantic blundcr.
II desire TO withdraw my letter and enter
protest against your making any use OF th'
departure or with view to your securing
situation in the future. This need not neces
sarily interfere with our friendship, but be
tween friendship and business the line mus
be drawn somewhere, and choose, for reason
conclusive to myself, 10 draw it Mt the a. m
special delivery Very truly yours,
"MiLToN MOBILES
II cut the special delivery stamp from
the Sheboygan letter and pasted it oi
the envelope, and, inclosing both in an
other letter, sent them to q friend il
Washington with few lines of expla
nation and instruction. The next storm,
night my friend, following instructions
hired special messenger, and at o p
m. he began ringing Postmaster Gener
al Villas doorbell First servan
came, then the generals secretary, bu
the messenger was firm; he must SCI
the general. Thinking probably tina
war had been declared in Haiti and
midnight session Of the cabinet called
the general slipped an ulster ON owe
his nightshirt and went down to tn